I have never been pregnant, but my husband and I are in the final weeks of becoming certified resource (foster) parents, and find ourselves preparing our home for children in much the same way we would if I were having a biological child. Part of the difference for us–aside from not taking Lamaze classes–is that the child or children coming to our home could be any age between birth and five years old. With that knowledge, we are preparing for one or more kids in that whole age range to arrive any time after we are certified. It’s a lot! We’ve spent months preparing, but I’m not sure I feel very prepared at all.
This passage uses labor pains as a metaphor for the suddenness of “the day of the Lord, ” but if you’ve had children–either through birth, adoption, or fostering–you know that the advent of a child into your family, although it might feel sudden, (usually) isn’t. Even if we don’t know precisely when a little one will arrive, we (usually) have plenty of time to prepare our homes. Even if the actual labor and delivery are quick and we feel very unprepared for what comes next, we’ve had plenty of time–and very often done a lot of work–to get ready.
Paul’s letter to the church at Thessalonica seems to point to this same kind of tension. We don’t know the hour or the day when Christ will come, but we can be prepared for it. We can prepare our hearts and our lives so that we’re ready no matter what happens, and we can help our communities to get ready, as well.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you. 2For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3When they say, ‘There is peace and security’, then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape! 4But you, beloved, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief; 5for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. 6So then, let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober; 7for those who sleep sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night. 8But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him. 11Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.
Consider these questions:
- Have you ever prepared for an event even though you didn’t know when it would happen, or exactly what it would be like? What was the event? How did you prepare? How did it feel to be ready for something you couldn’t completely predict?
- How are you preparing for Christ’s arrival in the world this Advent? Do you have a traditional spiritual practice you use? Does this Advent feel different from past years? How?
- What keeps you “awake” and ready? What encourages you in this season, and how are you encouraging and building up others?