Keep awake, how?
Reflection on a reading from today's Church of England Lectionary. 25 September 2021. Mark 13: 32 - the end.
We all need sleep, some manage to sleep for the recommended amount, up to one third of our lives. So when Jesus tells us that not even he knows when God will send him back, what does he mean by saying that we should be alert and to not be found sleeping when he returns? We are supposed to keep watch. How?
It is obvious that Jesus does not mean that we should physically keep awake, although it is possible that some tried. But we should keep spiritually awake. We keep Jesus in our minds and hearts when we are awake and entrust ourselves to him when we sleep. In short, we dedicate our lives to him.
“Save us, O Lord, while waking and guard us while sleeping, that awake we may watch with Christ and asleep we may rest in peace”.
These words from the Compline (late evening) Service are appropriate for today's subject. We seek him, we dedicate our lives and we abide in Jesus safe in the knowledge that we are with him and he with us.