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Vocation Meditation -
First Sunday of Advent 2010
Jesus spoke to his disciples: "As the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left."
"Keep awake, therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But 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. Therefore you also must be ready, as the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour."
Watchfulness is our response to the Word of God today on this first Sunday of Advent. It is said that if the day and the hour of the coming of Christ are known to none save God, then all life must be a constant preparation for that coming.
What are the pitfalls of not being watchful?
- To live without watchfulness invites disaster. Thieves come as a surprise; therefore, a householder must maintain a constant guard over his possessions. In the Christian scene, watchfulness is not that of terror-stricken fear and nervous apprehension. It is a watchfulness of eager expectation for the coming joy and glory that is to be received with Christ's coming.
- To those who say they have plenty of time are led into disaster, too. It is the comfortable delusion of the servant that he will have plenty of time to put things right before his Master returns that brings him ruin in the end.
- Rejection is based on failure in duty and reward is based on fidelity. If we are faithful in doing our duty, however simple that duty may be, on the day Christ calls us to him and on the day of reckoning, there will be joy for those who stand ready with hearts and hands full and open to welcome Him.
Vocation Challenge:
"Keep awake. The Lord is coming."
What is it that keeps me busy and hinders me from recognizing Jesus' coming?
Dear God,
You promised to come in glory but at a time only known to You. You exhort me to have a watchful eye to wait for your coming. My vocation is a daily adventure of listening and being attentive to your Voice. Let not the attractions of sin and complacency weaken my gaze on Your promise. I wait for your call and I stand ready, Lord. Amen.
For the full Gospel reading for this Sunday, visit the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops site.