"Watch for you do not know when the time will come"

Scripture: Mark 13:33-37

33 Take heed, watch; for you do not know when the time will come.34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. 35 Watch therefore -- for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the  morning -- 36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Watch."

Reflection: This first Sunday of Advent, Jesus reminds us to be vigilant and prepared for His coming. The second coming of the Messiah is sure to happen, but no one knows when the time is. Getting ready for the most important event in history should be our priority. No one will be exempt from the day of judgement, even those who have died will be judged on this day along with the living.

How do we prepare ourselves? By being faithful to God's will in our lives. And His will is for us to love as much as we can. Doing whatever duties we have with love no matter how simple it is. As St. John Bosco,  patron of the youth said: "Do your ordinary duties extraordinarily well." We cannot do anything well if we do not do it with love, especially love for God. God is easy to please. We can offer up to Him the most ordinary task as long as it is done with love for Him and others.

We are living in the end times, the time between the first coming of Christ and His second coming. We are constantly reminded to prepare ourselves by living a life of love and doing our best to be God's instruments of blessing to others. Are you God's instrument of love and blessing?

It's in our Hands

Scripture:  Luke 17:26-37

26 As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of man.  27 They ate, they drank, they married, they were given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed  them all. 28 Likewise as it was in the days of Lot -- they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built, 29 but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom fire and sulphur rained from heaven and destroyed them all -- 30 so will it be on the day when the Son of man is revealed. 31 On that day, let him who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away; and likewise let him who is in the field not turn back. 32 Remember Lot's wife. 33 Whoever seeks to gain his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will preserve it. 34 I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. 35 There will be two women grinding together; one will be taken and the other left." 37 And they said to him, "Where, Lord?" He said to them, "Where the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together."

Reflection: When Jesus talked about the day of Judgement, He advised His disciples to detach themselves to things that are not important. Those who are preoccupied with selfish pursuits and pleasure will regret it. For "whoever seeks to gain his life will lose it".  Jesus said that on the day of Judgement "let him who is on the housetop with goods in the house, not come down to take them away." He is teaching us to detach ourselves to fleeting things which are not important. Lot's wife while fleeing from Sodom could not detach from her worldly possessions and that caused her to look back. And you know what happened to her. We should ask ourselves: "are there persons or possessions that are more important in our lives and are keeping us from focusing on God and His will?" 

We are responsible for playing our part in our own salvation. God will judge each of us according to how we responded to His love, ultimately we cannot point to others as responsible for the consequences of our actions. That is what Jesus meant when on the day of Judgement, "one will be taken and the other left". No one can get a free ride to heaven on the merits of someone else, we all have a responsibility to live out our faith according to God's will. God has done His part in our salvation, now it's up to us to do ours. The good news is God is willing and able to give us the grace we need to help us do our part. 

The day of the Lord is coming and it is inevitable. It can be scary for those who are not prepared, and it can be anticipated with joyful hope for those who live according to God's will. Are we going to be be left behind or not? The choice is ours. 

Ready for the Kingdom

Scripture:  Luke 17:20-25

20 Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, he answered them, "The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; 21 nor will they say, `Lo, here it is!' or `There!' for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you." 22 And he said to the disciples, "The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and you will not see  it. 23 And they will say to you, `Lo, there!' or `Lo, here!' Do not go, do not follow them. 24 For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of man be in his day. 25 But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.

Reflection: The Pharisees constantly asked Jesus about the coming of God's Kingdom. They are doing this because they would not accept Jesus as the Messiah. The Lord's reply shocked them for He said that the Kingdom is already in their midst. Jesus the Son of God made man is Emmanuel, God with us. He is the surest sign that God's Kingdom has already arrived.

Jesus also speaks about the day of the Son of man, where the Messiah will come again as Judge of both the living and the dead. He uses lightning as an image of His second coming. For like lightning that flashes across the sky He will come without warning and all will recognize Him as Lord, even the unbelievers. Jesus first came as a humble servant, a willing victim who offered Himself for the redemption of mankind. In the second coming He will manifest Himself as Lord and Judge. Are we ready to offer up a life well lived when we face the Lord?

Now that Christmas is approaching, let us remind ourselves what it really means. It's not about preparing for the numerous parties and shopping sprees but preparing for the coming of the Messiah. Christmas is celebrated yearly to remind us of this great Truth, that God became man to make Himself closer to His people, to bring them healing, forgiveness, freedom and salvation. It is a fitting gift to our Savior that our hearts are well prepared for His coming.

The Wise are Always Prepared

Scripture:  Matthew 25:1-13

1 "Then the kingdom of heaven shall be compared to ten maidens who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, `Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' 7 Then all those maidens rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, `Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' 9 But the wise replied, `Perhaps there will not be enough for us and for you; go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.' 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast; and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other maidens came also, saying, `Lord, lord, open to us.' 12 But he replied, `Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.' 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

Reflection: Jesus frequently uses the image of a wedding and wedding feasts in His parable about God's Kingdom. Because a wedding is an image of the union God wants to have with us forever and the feast is an image of eternal life of love and complete happiness with Him. God invites us everyday to the heavenly feast and calls us to prepare ourselves. In the parable of the ten maidens, Jesus showed that the wise are always prepared and therefore worthy to join the feast. 

The wisdom of the maidens who came prepared with oil in their lamps made them fit to be part of the wedding feast. The maidens who were unprepared were called foolish and they paid for it by not being allowed to join the feast. It may seem strange to have to reject someone because they have no oil in their lamps, but it makes sense to Jesus' audience at that time. It is the custom for grooms then was to come in his bride's village at anytime he pleases without announcing it. The groom takes the long route around the village so that many could join the wedding procession and once they arrive the doors are shut and only those who have joined in the procession are allowed to go inside. If the groom comes at night, those who are prepared with oil in their lamps may join the procession to the feast. Those who have no lamps are not allowed to go out in the streets at night and cannot join the procession and the feast. 

Jesus calls us to prepare every single day "for you know neither the day nor the hour." We spend our lives satisfying our desires while neglecting to reach out to others. Our selfishness hurt the people around us and especially God who calls us to love our neighbors as ourselves. When Jesus returns as the triumphant Lord and Judge of all, will He find us doing His Will or doing our selfish will? Are we prepared for the day of the Lord's coming? 

May God give us the grace to be ready and worthy to join His heavenly banquet. 

Work on Your Mission Daily

Scripture:  Luke 12:39-48
39 But know this, that if the householder had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an unexpected hour." 41 Peter said, "Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?" 42 And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes will find so doing. 44 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 45 But if that servant says to himself, `My master is delayed in coming,' and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and  drink and get drunk, 46 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will punish him, and put him with the unfaithful. 47 And that servant who knew his master's will, but did not make ready or act according to his will, shall receive a severe beating. 48 But he who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, shall receive a light beating. Every one to whom much is given, of him will much be required; and of him to whom men commit much they will demand the more.

Reflection: God has tasked us with a mission that is individually unique to us. If we do not fulfill our mission, then no one else will complete it for us. If Jesus returns today, will He find us doing our God given mission faithfully?

All of us were created by God for a purpose and no one is put in this world without the capacity to contribute. A mission from God can range from simple things like doing your simple tasks well, or working to end hunger in Africa. No purpose is too small as long as it is done with love for God and others. God is pleased when you wash the dishes with the purpose of making things easier for your mom or wife or helper.

If God has revealed to us what He wants us to do, we should apply all our energies into doing it because our eternal destiny depends on it. Sadly we are more preoccupied with inconsequential things and selfish pleasure. There is nothing wrong with enjoying life, but we should not lose focus on God's will. The fulfillment that comes from doing God's will in our lives gives us the greatest satisfaction and stores for us real treasures in heaven.

God has blessed each of us and in return we should be ready to use our gifts to fulfill our mission. If we just keep our blessings for ourselves without sharing it, we are like the unfaithful servant in Jesus' parable. The master punished the wicked servant for not doing what he was tasked to do. If God decides to end the world today, we should be ready to face Him and say that we have been faithful to our mission. Are we ready for the day when God will call us to account for all our deeds?

Stewards of God's Creation

Scripture: Matthew 21:33-43
33 "Hear another parable. There was a householder who planted a vineyard, and set a hedge around it, and dug a wine press in it, and built a tower, and let it out to tenants, and went into another country. 34 When the season of fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants, to get his fruit; 35 and the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. 36 Again he sent other servants, more than the first; and they did the same to them. 37 Afterward he sent his son to them, saying, `They will respect my son.' 38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, `This is the heir; come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.' 39 And they took him and cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. 40 When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?" 41 They said to him, "He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons." 42 Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the scriptures: `The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'? 43 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation producing the fruits of it."

Reflection:  God gave us a world that has everything we need. And He gave us the wisdom and talent to harness all the resources of His creation for the betterment of our lives. This shows great trust on the part of God to make us stewards of His vineyard--- caretakers of His creation. But God sees that we abuse the trust and freedom He has given us. This resulted in much destruction, suffering, and injustice. To make things right, God sent Jesus His Son. The Son's mission is not to condemn, but to make us realize the things we have done wrong, and show us the Way to fix our mistakes. In the hardness of our hearts, we rejected the Son and continue in our evil ways.

Thank God, He does not lose His trust in us. He continues to be patient, and calls us to follow Jesus. But there will be a time for God's Justice when on the day of Judgement He will likewise reject those who rejected Him. That time is coming.

Now is still the season for God's mercy. Let us not waste this great opportunity and blessing. While there is still time, let us hear the Son and embrace His ways. Let us be good stewards of life and creation which God has lovingly given to us. When the time of Judgement comes, we hope to hear God say: "Come to me my beloved children, you have become a faithful image of my Son."