1st Sunday Advent – Be watchful!

The Greek word, blepo, has several meanings.  Basically, it means “to see.”  Also, “beware, watch out, pay attention, take care.”  “Seeing” is one minor yet key theme.  And, should you check out my new book (“I Want to See”) you will discover that blindness is part of the lives of scribes, Pharisees, chief priests, elders, disciples, and the Twelve.  Only Bartimaeus, the blind beggar who asks to see, actually sees and follows Jesus.

OK, eventually, Peter does when he weeps after cockcrow.

What ought we pay attention to?

Mark 4:23–24            Let anyone with ears to hear listen!” 24 And he said to them, “Pay attention [see, watch out, take care]to what you hear…

Mark 8:15–18            And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out [horao] — beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.”  Do you have eyes, and fail to see? Do you have ears, and fail to hear?

Mark 12:38–40           As he taught, he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the market places, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets!  They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

Mark 13:23f             But be alert; I have already told you everything.  “But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light,

See what you hear:  Has listening become a form of avoidance for me?  Listening to music, news, gossip; listening inattentively, with boredom, not at all?

See the yeast of the Pharisees & Herod:  Am I aware of my hypocrisy?  Has it become a path back to God yet?  Am I aware of how my complaints about                             distract me from my woundedness?

See!  When I am terrified of… the end of my world drama of anxiety is near!  When I rage at politicians, the potential end of my world of pretension and arrogance is near at hand!  When I feel on the outside of everything and everyone, the end of blaming others is near!

Be alert!  See!