Psalm 80
1 Corinthians 1:4-9
Mark 13:31-37
REFLECTION: “Kindle
the Flame”
A campfire must be
kindled continually to give heat. Once someone stops placing fresh wood on the
fire, its moments are numbered, and it will eventually go out.
It is this way with the
spiritual gifts that sustain us as we await the day of Jesus’ return.
During these next few
weeks the focus of many will be on shopping, and selecting the present to bring
a glowing smile to recipient on Christmas Day. Expressing our love with gifts
is fine, but do we take the same care to prepare our hearts daily for Christ’s
presence as we do for this once a year celebration?
In order to ensure that we are faithfully following Jesus,
we need to be certain to kindle the fire of faith, hope, and love within us
daily; not just once a year, a Christmas time.
We are called to learn
about this in the Parable that Jesus shares in our Gospel reading today. The
servants and gatekeeper of the master are given the information they need to
conduct their labors and are given the directions on how to wait for his
return. Jesus has done this for us as well.
He has, as St. Paul says
in our epistle, given us every spiritual gift we need as we eagerly await
for the return of Jesus.
Have
you kindled your gifts today?