This week's readings Week of December 1 - 7 Sunday, December 1, 2002 Reading I: Is 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7 Reading II: 1Cor 1:3-9 Gospel: Mk 13:33-37 Monday, December 2, 2002 Reading I: Is 2:1-5 Gospel: Mt 8:5-11 Tuesday, December 3, 2002 Reading I: Is 11:1-10 Gospel: Lk 10:21-24 Wednesday, December 4, 2002 Reading I: Is 25:6-10a Gospel: Mt 15:29-37 Thursday, December 5, 2002 Reading I: Is 26:1-6 Gospel: Mt 7:21, 24-27 Friday, December 6, 2002 Reading I: Is 29:17-24 Gospel: Mt 9:27-31 Saturday, December 7, 2002 Reading I: Is 30:19-21, 23-26 Gospel: Mt 9:35-10:1, 5a, 6-8 Pope's Prayer Intentions December General Intention Protection of children from all violence: That children around the world may be protected and defended by their families and by adequate social policies against all violence. December Mission Intention That Christmas may stir up love for those who count for little in the world: That remembering the Savior's birth may help people develop an ever-greater respect for the little ones and those the world does not count.

Keep watch for Jesus:
Don't look away

		Word of God  Word of Life  Fr. John G. Stillmank

Remember the old saw that "a watched pot never boils?"

Mom told us that. If you watch for the water to begin boiling, it seems forever until it actually does. But if you turn your back for a moment and do something else - sure enough, the water in that pot starts boiling away.

"He never took his eyes off his goal: bringing people to God's kingdom and bringing the kingdom to them."

"Better to busy yourself with some other task," a site on the Internet says to unpack this phrase, "and the time will (seem to) go faster." Of course the time it takes to boil is the same either way; it's just our perception that changes. Being patient is what it's about.

Might we say the same about waiting for the coming of the Lord? Jesus says, "Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come." And if that's not enough, he says it again: "What I say to you, I say to all: 'Watch!''" This seems to fly in the face of the idea that we need to be patient.

Readings for First Sunday of Advent (Dec. 1, 2002) Isaiah 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7 Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 Mark 13:33-37

Jesus was not patient that way - he had only three years to get the message out, to prepare his followers, to preach and teach and heal and save. He never took his eyes off his goal: bringing people to God's kingdom and bringing the kingdom to them.

Jesus used many examples in his ministry to encourage people to be prepared for the coming of the Lord, to repent, to look for the kingdom, to make the way of the Lord ready in our hearts. A pot of water on the stove wasn't among them, but it describes the same thing. Jesus says, "if you aren't watching for the coming of the kingdom, you'll be looking somewhere else when it does."

As we attend to the daily demands of life; as we serve others, especially the members of our family; as we try to hear the message of the Gospel above the noise and bustle of the world which demands so much of our attention - we must also pay attention to the admonition of Jesus to stay watchful and alert for God's kingdom.

"You do not know when the time will come." Along with these words from Jesus are those from the Second Vatican Council, which urges the members of the Church to read the signs of the times. "Keep your eye on the pot of water," Jesus and the Church seem to be saying.

"The time is now" is another way to put it. The time to serve the needs of the poor is now, for if you are not watching out for them and their needs, you will miss the coming of God's kingdom. The time to use your life for God's glory and the benefit of others is now, for if you are not watching for ways to do that, you will miss the opportunity.

In the season of Advent, Jesus turns up the heat. There's an urgency in his words. We who look to see the face of the Lord and be saved must be watchful, alert, present to the moment that the Lord will appear in our lives.

He might be the young woman in need of support and prayers. He might be the elderly man who is sick and needs medicine. He might be the young child who needs help to learn to read. He might be a prisoner, or someone thirsty or naked or scared or laid off.

You'll never get a second chance to help someone God places in your path, so do it now. Don't let the world and its cares distract you from the mission and ministry Jesus has entrusted to his disciples. Don't let the water boil while you're not watching.

Fr. John G. Stillmank is Moderator of the Curia for the Diocese of Madison and pastor of St. Andrew Parish, Verona, and St. William Parish, Paoli.