Waiting

From a sermon by Dietrich Bonhoeffer using the text Luke 12:35 -40:

"And now it seems as if, in this attempt to create a new kind of human being, the Bible also wants to have a word to say, as if it definitely sets up its own ideal of the human being who should go out to meet the future. It is not the political, not the ethical not even the religious person of whom the Bible speaks, but the person who is waiting and watching, the waiting person. For that is obviously what our text is saying. That is the meaning of this scene that Jesus paints before our eyes: night has fallen across the dark countryside. But there is a house from which light shines out into the night. Several men, with their swords at their belts and lamps in their hands, are looking out of the house across the dark countryside. They seem to be waiting. They are slaves awaiting the return of their master from the wedding, who fight off sleep and keep watch in joyful expectation to be able to open the door immediately for the master when he comes. No one knows the hour when he will come. But they know that he is coming, and that is why they are alert and watchful in the night. How long did they keep watch? No one knows--it may be that they are still keeping watch today among us. and now Jesus calls these slaves blessed and says to the disciples: so be like the slaves who are waiting for the master. You be ready, too! Be people who are waiting." [1]

[1]Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Ecumenical Academic, and Pastoral Work: 1931-1932,

Dietrich Bonhoeffer works Vol. 2