Watchful and Joyful

11-22-2020Weekly Reflection

Today is the first Sunday of Advent, the time for preparation for the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. In Mk. 13: 33 37, Jesus reminds us of the need to be watchful, Vigilant and Joyful. Only one thing is definite: The Lord is coming. The simile of the fig tree in Vv. 2831 indicates that Jesus may arrive later than what people expected, but He will surely come. It is as definite as the growth of the tree and its cycle of life. The image of the master of the house indicates that he is unsure of his return. He can come home anytime. Thus, his servant must be watchful and vigilant, just as disciples must be watchful and prepared for Jesus’ second coming. The exact time is unknown: He wishes to hide this with us so that we will remain vigilant. The spirit of watchfulness and vigilance is necessary in every generation, for His coming to be an awaited event. Throughout the Advent Season, the Church invites us to keep our sense of watchfulness and vigilance with a joyful disposition.

Be watchful! Be alert! But also, Be Joyful! No one knows when the time will come. Life is short, and death is certain. Do not be caught off guard and unprepared. Do not delay or postpone our conversion. Finally, please do not delay and postpone our loving. Let us not be filled with any regret that we did not live well and did not love enough when death finally comes.

Life is for a mission and one big preparation to meet our Creator. If we are for a mission: life becomes faithful, fruitful, and meaningful. Live humbly, “If we are humble, we realize how small we are and how much we need God, then we cannot fail.” (St. Mother Theresa) In humility, let us pray for the grace of living faithful and meaningful lives. Let us not live empty and meaningless lives. When the end comes, with courage ready to face God who will then say to us: “Welcome, inherit the Kingdom!”

Please try to pray this in all humility every day: Lord, may my life be yours, may my exit be kind, and may eternity be mine, and Your mercy divine. Amen. With Advent, Christmas is just around the corner. This year will be the most memorable in the annals of history. CoVid 19 caused a pandemic of epic proportions. Countries closed their borders, whole populations quarantined, and travel restrictions were imposed. The magnitude of the infections and the number of fatalities caused by the virus is unprecedented. The economic impact will be felt for years to come globally. Nobody saw it coming! In one stroke, our way of life and our priorities have changed. Some people hold on to their faith in God. Others surrendered, some remained unengaged or indifferent to all that is happening. Caught offguard, we should learn our lessons, be vigilant, and be prepared.

For the many who have lost loved ones to CoVid 19 and those who have deaths in their families, nonCoVid related, Christmas won’t be the same this year. It will never be the same. Somebody who brought the family together, organized family gatherings, or who made these gatherings memorable are missed. Needless to say: their presence will be missed. But less we forget that Christ is the reason for the Christmas season, and because of Him and the Resurrection, we are confident that we will meet again our loved ones who have left us this year. Until our own time, the Second Coming, we shall meet again in the Resurrection in the next life. Advent is not only the time for vigilance but also of Joyful waiting. So, instead of singing, “Santa Claus is coming to town…” why not sing: Jesus Christ is coming to town!

Let us be inspired this Season of Advent. Yes! There is waiting, there is vigilance, but Advent is also the spirit of hope and joy, in anticipation of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.This Advent, let us reflect on this, be silent when our words would hurt; be patient when being hurt; be deaf when scandal flows; share whatever little we have; be kind all the time, instead of being right most of the time. May our preparation for your coming be with Vigilance and JOY.