We are in the last week of the church year.  These last couple of Sundays have taken their assigned Gospel reading from the final discourse of Jesus, spoken during holy Week.  The main topic of Jesus' teaching has to do with the signs of the end of the world and with promises of God's deliverance for those who love Him.

Jesus often taught by using parables in order to instruct especially His inner circle of disciples regarding the kingdom of God.  These parables occurred in various places:  along the road, in the house, by the Sea of Galilee.  Last Sunday's Gospel reading from Mark 13 included the final parable of Jesus' life and teaching ministry.  He spoke of the end like this:  "it is like a man who goes away leaving his servants in charge, each with his own task, and says to the doorkeeper, 'stay awake.'" 

Each of us Christians has our various vocations or callings in life.  We carry them out with the strength and wisdom that God provides, while also having a certain degree of authority and room for creativity within them (we've kind of been "put in charge").  While our vocations differ we all are to be like the doorman of the house, we are to stay awake ("what I say to you [disciples] I say to all:  stay awake"). 

This watchfulness looks for the fulfillment of God's Word.  Yes, the signs of the end are noticed (wars, famines, earthquakes, false Christs, etc).  Yes, the promises of God regarding our deliverance are taken to heart ("heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away").  Yes, we confess that we live by faith and not by sight, that we look forward to the glorious return of Christ and our vindication by Him in the judgment.  We see the struggles of others in this present life and seek to serve them as best we can (while praying).  We believe that even as the nations are in turmoil the kingdom of Christ "shall have no end."  We, by God's grace, have been made members of Christ's kingdom through baptism and God-wrought faith.