Advent begins with a challenging call to vigilance rather than gentle Christmas stories, but this message contains profound hope. The early Christian community faced upheaval and confusion, wondering when Jesus would return. Apocalyptic literature wasn't meant to predict the future but to inspire present action. Empire systems distract us from God's kingdom by focusing on wrong details like calculating Jesus' return, while Jesus invites us to focus on His teachings and kingdom work. The kingdom of heaven is already breaking into our world through love, community, generosity, and care for creation. Staying awake means developing spiritual sensitivity to recognize kingdom opportunities that appear suddenly, ready to respond with hope.
