Trust, Vigilance, and Prayer

If anyone ever wonders if we need Jesus in our world, we only need watch the news these days.  The suffering of innocent people, especially children, is so very painful to watch.  It’s heart wrenching to see war-torn areas where land is polluted with military hardware, and basic human needs are not being met.  Powerful organizations and nations run roughshod over Creation and human rights, exercising their power and control, and violating the ancient commands from Genesis 2:15  to “work in and take care of the Garden (Earth)” and from Deuteronomy 18:19 and 30:31 to “love your neighbor as yourself”.

The prophet Daniel was deeply disturbed over some similarly terrible scenes.  He vividly saw the empires that dominated the world of his time, and he anguished as we do when cherished spiritual values were being violated (Daniel 7:15-27).  Daniel was one of the many Jews taken into exile in Babylon, who were persecuted for their faith.  But he persevered in his faith and his confidence in God.  I’m thinking about the story of “Daniel in the Lion’s Den”, when Daniel and his companions were saved from being devoured by lions, by the power of God (Daniel Chapter 6).

Jesus didn’t flee from this imperfect and hurting world either, and following His example, Christians are obligated to work for justice and peace (prayer is a good way to do this).  In order for us to accompany those who are suffering, and to persevere in working for justice and peace, we need to be prepared spiritually.  And in the Gospels, Jesus tells His disciples (and us) how to do that:

“Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth.

Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.”  (Luke 21:34-36)

So I ask:  Could sobriety regarding substances, turning our lives over to God in trust, vigilance, and prayer be the spiritual practices we’re called to do this Advent?