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Vocation Meditation -
First Sunday of Advent, 2011
Jesus said to his disciples: "Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with a particular task, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake."
Readiness is the invitation of today's Gospel, in this beginning of the new liturgical year.
Jesus prepared his hearers to raise the bar of their awareness to the time of His second coming. He noted that no one knows when this time will come and hence, what better measure would reassure them of hope than to be watchful and waiting for the Master whom they have served all through their life.
Jesus draws a practical conclusion close to home. Each one has experienced waiting for the coming of an event, of an important visitor, or the person we love. The unknown is a welcome fact. We prepare ourselves and everyone. We get the necessary things ready.
In the case of Jesus' words, we live in the shadow of the unknown. That is no reason for us to be fearful, to worry, nor to panic in expectation of His coming or the coming of unknown events in history. In fact, Jesus' words of wisdom and prevention invite us all to act accordingly as people 'of the day' and people of hope. Day by day our work must be completed. We must so live that it does not matter when He comes. His love rests in us. This gives us the great task of making every day fit for Him to see and being at any moment ready to meet him face to face.
All life, then, becomes a preparation to meet the King.
Vocation Challenge:
"The Master of the house will come… Be alert."
What significantly uses up my time that makes me less "alert to meet my King" each day?
Dear Lord,
I am aware how I fill up my days with work, worries, plans and deadlines. My energy and tranquility escape me. And I know that You, my 'Master of the house' will come at the time I least expect. Your visitation will be a surprise by day or by night. I pray to be alert, joyful in waiting, blessed by your coming, dressed in action and filled with good works. Amen.
For the full Gospel reading for this Sunday, visit the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops site.