Sunday Bible Devotional (Dec 1, 2024)

Everyone always knows the end of the world

While the primary theme from the Gospel reading for this first Sunday of Advent is to stay vigilant and prepared for the adventus of the Son of Man, it is the first and second readings that give a little more insight as to how.

There is the mistaken notion that vigilance means assuming that everything points to some prophecy and every action is imbued with apocalyptic meaning. This is just gullibility in a different form. It makes one susceptible to a different kind of deception and undermines the true work of preparation called for by Jesus. Ironically, it creates a type of business in the person that imitates, in a spiritual way, the same business one sees in a world without hope in the return of Christ.

Acedia

This business is actually a form of spiritual sloth or acedia. While sloth is most commonly associated with the laziness of inactivity, the deficiency of spiritual zeal can also take the form of an over-active life devoid of spiritual focus. This is arguably the much more common form of acedia today and is born from the same root as a “lazy” life. 

How does the Christian combat this vice and stay vigilant as Jesus commands? Follow the advice of St. Paul from the second reading and “increase and abound in love” (1 Thess 3:12), “conduct yourselves to please God” (4:1). Finally, how is one to live out St. Paul’s exhortation? Follow our first reading from Jeremiah, “do what is right and just” (Jer 33:15).