3-Dec-23 (Mark 13:24-37)

When we talk about the signs of God's presence, as we do when we get into the Advent season, we tend to think about God coming to us in the person of Jesus. However, what most people see of God is how God is represent in us, the Church. How do we represent the presence of God in our world? If we're paying attention to those signs, then the outcasts are welcomed in, the suffering are comforted, the world experiences the love of God through actions.
To make that happen, we have to put our time, our efforts, our talents, and yes, our financial resources together so that, collectively, we can become more than just a collection of people who want to see good happen. Collectively, we can become the presence of God to a world that desperately wants to see it.
Let's consider that as we take up today's offering.

Prayer:

God, who sent us Jesus, to teach us how to love you and love others, fill us with that love so that we can become the Church, you've called us to be. Bless these offerings we give and use them to further your work on Earth so the people will see your love in action.
We pray in the name of Jesus, our Christ, AMEN.