Stay Woke

“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.

“Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”

Mark 13:32-37

Jesus offers us a warning to be watchful for his return and being ready—not in a paranoid way, but in a way that keeps us spiritually awake and prepared.

He does this by comparing it to a master who goes away and could come back at any time. The point? No one knows when—not even the angels or Jesus Himself while He was on Earth. That means we shouldn’t get caught up in predicting dates or listening to people who claim they have secret knowledge. Instead, Jesus calls us to stay faithful, live with purpose, and focus on what really matters—prayer, repentance, loving others, and sharing His message.

Being watchful doesn’t mean living in fear, but rather staying spiritually aware, like keeping your house in order before a surprise visit. It’s easy to put things off, but if we truly believe in Jesus' return, our lives should reflect that—right now, not just someday. And if we ever find ourselves getting lost in distractions, Bonhoeffer’s words are a great reminder: Don’t wake up one day and realize you’ve lost your soul in the busyness of life.

So, the takeaway? Don’t worry about predicting the future—just stay awake, stay faithful, and live as people of the Day.