Advent - A Time to Watch

Advent is a time of waiting. We are largely impatient people as a society and do not like to wait. This first Sunday of Advent we will look at how waiting for the return of Christ helps us focus on watching for his return. We can easily be distracted by all of the bad things going on around us but those who are at peace in the presence of God will develop eyes to see what he is doing in the world. This type of watching helps us see where God is at work rather than being distracted by the ongoing life around us. Below is a list of parables where Jesus talks about the active waiting we engage in and how it helps us being watchful people. For further reading in Matthew on waiting: ·  The Parable of the Weeds (13.24–35) ·  The Beginning of the Birth Pangs (24.1–14) ·  The Coming of the Son of Man (24.29–35) ·  The Wise and Wicked Slaves (24.45–51) ·  The Wise and Foolish Girls (25.1–13) ·  Gethsemane (26.36–46)