This Sunday we begin the short but very meaningful season of Advent.  This word Advent means Arrival.  Christians are a people of the end times, waiting for the arrival of the Lord.  The recommendation from the Lord himself is to watch.  It is quite interesting that this word can have another meaning. A watch.  A watch is a device that measures time.  So, a sentence can be formulated that says keep watch with your watch.  This of course only works in English where there are words that have two meanings depending on the context.  The translation to Spanish would use different words, but there is a benefit in using this word with its two meanings when it relates to Advent.  People of faith need to be mindful that time is passing. The Lord asks of His people to be alert, but many have let the time of their lives pass without any action to ensure their salvation.
     There is a contrast with the two readings of the day.  The first reading is basically saying people have squandered their time, they have not watched what they are doing, and they have gone with the wind of the world. The world has left them in tatters, like an old rag.  They have not been  watchful.  The first reading’s author seems to blame God, saying in His anger God has let the people wander away and become sinful. This is an attitude of many even today: blame God and do not take responsibility.  But at the end it says God is the potter, and we are the clay. If a person becomes malleable, willing to be molded then they certainly have not wasted their time in this life. The second reading offers the contrast. These are the people who keep watch. They are mindful that time is fleeting, and they want to make something with their time while on this earth.  There are signs of the people who are watching for the arrival of the Lord. 1) They grow in their knowledge of the faith day by day. They are not idle. They are not complacent.
They study, they learn, they explore their faith with  formation.  They are in love with God and fill their minds with the knowledge from on High. 2) They give testimony in both discourse and in action about their faith to the Lord.  They can’t stop announcing about the wonderful time when the Lord will come again. They share the Gospel with others with their lives.  3) They try to live a decent life, irreproachable to God.  They are good, decent, moral people who know that their actions in this world have a consequence in the world to come. They are conscious they will have to render an account to the Master upon his arrival and so behave well.  4) They remain firm until the end.  Firm in the faith.  Firm in their convictions.  Firm in their  values.  Firm in the hope of the new day of eternity with the Lord. They don’t vacillate between God and the world.  They are committed members of their church.  5) They are faithful until the end. They are not only in for a while in the church but remain committed to service until the end regardless of who is in front. Lastly, they foster communion with others in the church.  This is called fellowship. They know they are in it together, and they wait together for the arrival of the Lord.  A person who is keeping all this in mind, is a person who is fulfilling what the Lord strongly recommended “Watch!”
      It is interesting toward the end of His earthly ministry, Jesus spoke less and less, but His words became utterly important and precise. One last word He said, “Watch!” One word with great meaning so let us watch how we live our lives, how we spend our time while in this world, and let us watch for His arrival at the end of times.