Mark’s Gospel reading for this first week of Advent says, “Keep awake.” Between the pandemic and economic, social, political, and religious turmoil, there are lots of reasons to stay awake. But is anyone really getting a good night’s sleep? Are we awake for all the wrong reasons? Do we keep alert for things that are out of our control? The Gospel challenges us to be on high alert, for God is still at work. This is our promised hope.   We need to “keep awake” so we do not miss what God is doing in our lives and in the world.

Photo by Joe Le Merou