prepared by Rev. Daniel Yovan – 30th November 2025
Prayer:
God of Abraham and Sarah and all the Patriarchs of old, you are our Father too. Your love is revealed to us in Jesus Christ, Son of God, and Son of David. Help us in preparing to celebrate his birth, to make our hearts ready and to place our hope in you. Help us today and every day to worship you, to hear your word, and to do your will by sharing your hope with others. We ask it in the name of the one who was born in Bethlehem. Amen.
Matthew 24: 36 – 44
36“But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, 39and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. 42Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.
Reflection:
As we approach the Christmas season, the whole world is getting into the celebratory mood. The shops are full of gifts, the lights are hung on the side of the streets and in the houses. We are getting the list of names for the Christmas cards ready. Most Christian communities preparing for the nativity service. Children expects gifts from parents and some parents go into debts because they by the gifts their kids ‘do not need’ with the money they ‘do not have’. This puts a lot of pressure on the young families and the celebration becomes burdensome rather than joyful. The real reason for the Christmas season is not widely understood in our communities. That is why the church has a vital role to play in this matter.
The Christian communities around the world spent billions of pounds for lightings and decorations especially the churches of South India. Whole church premises would be lit with colourful lights and it becomes a wonderful delight for the eyes to dwell on. But at the same time people who are poor, still struggling to provide meals for their children including on Christmas day. Once, when I was little, I enjoyed this lightings and celebrations, but it saddens my heart now, to see that the churches are neglecting their real role of looking after the strangers and homeless and the orphans, and willing to spent millions for this ‘baby Jesus’. Please do not misunderstand me, the churches are doing what they can to look after the marginalised in the society. But it is not enough. While we, including churches, are getting ready to welcome the baby Jesus, He is getting ready to come as a King to judge the living and the dead. Because the one who came as a baby in not a baby anymore. He is the Everlasting Father and judge of the whole world.
In this passage from Matthew we see that the hour of the coming of our Lord is not known to anyone. He will come at an unexpected hour. Therefore he asked us to keep awake and watch. The passage warns us not live as if Jesus is not coming back. People lived their life without a care in the world at the time of Noah even though they were warned about the oncoming flood. Jesus said it will be the same when the Son of Man comes. People will live neglecting all the warnings of his coming, some even mock those who preach the second coming. Including some Christians do not believe the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. If one doesn’t believe, how will they wait for his coming. This is, partly, also due to some theologians playing down on His coming.
You may ask me, Daniel, how do I stay awake and wait for his coming? Staying awake in the context of this passage (Please read the whole chapter to get the bigger picture) is that God has given all of us something to do. We are to do the duties diligently in expectation of his coming. So that when he comes we will not be surprised, but be delighted to ‘hand over’ the fruits of our duties. Because for those who watch and wait for his coming ‘the great day’ (Malachi 4: 1-4), will be a joyful occasion, not the one to be feared (Rev 6: 16).
We will then be able to lay all our achievements/success at his feet in humble adoration. Friends, my prayer for myself and all of us is that we would be able to withstand the forces that are trying to lure us away from the living God, and that we will be able to stand before the Son of Man with great Joy (Luke 21: 34-36) when he comes. Maranatha. Come Lord Jesus. Amen.
Intercession:
For those who don’t know how they will be spending Christmas, for the stress and uncertainty that this can bring. Pray for those who are feeling the loss of loved ones this Christmas, those mourning relationship breakdowns, and those coming to terms with the possibility that they may not be able to have children.
Pray for everyone experiencing financial hardship at Christmas and the pressures it can bring. Pray for single parents at this time who may feel the pressure to produce all aspects of Christmas by themselves, or who may be spending Christmas without their children.
Pray for all those end up in refuges over Christmas, or who are afraid to go home and spend extended time with their spouse or family. Pray for those who experience loneliness over the Christmas holidays. Pray for the peace of the world……………
Pray for those currently going through divorce or separation over the Christmas season, and may be spending their first Christmas alone.
Pray for those whose family or partner have dementia or other neurological conditions and may not recognise them over Christmas.
Pray especially for single church leaders at Christmas, where there is huge pressure to run Christmas services and activities, and they may not have family or friends waiting for them at home.
The Lord’s prayer.
Our Father, who art in heaven hallowed be thy name;
Thy kingdom come; thy will be done;
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. AMEN.
Blessings:
Christ the Sun of Righteousness shine upon you, scatter the darkness from before your path, and make you ready to meet him when he comes in glory; and the blessing of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit remain with you now and always. AMEN.
