VIGILANCE IS THE PRIZE OF VICTORY

 The days are coming, says the LORD, 
    when I will fulfill the promise 
    I made to the house of Israel and Judah.
In those days, in that time, 
    I will raise up for David a just shoot; 
    he shall do what is right and just in the land.

 One of the most difficult lessons of life is, ‘learning to wait’. Waiting could be as simple as standing in line at the bank and waiting patiently; it could be patiently waiting for things to work out at one’s job or career; it could be waiting for the right time for God to answer one’ hidden or urgent prayer.

Modern people, like ourselves, do not ‘do’ waiting. We want things done ‘right here, right now’. We even think that speed or quickness equals efficiency or smartness. We hate ‘slow’ or taking one’s time and because of this, we find ourselves at the crossroads always with the things of God. You see, the logic of the kingdom of God is a slow process. It requires the discipline of waiting (careful watching).

The first lesson of Advent is- where does the confidence of tomorrow or a future lie for the believer/ Christian? It comes as a result of learning to wait in the Lord! That God will indeed restore all things as he promises for Our God is a deliverer.  The one who is victorious is the one who is vigilant in patient waiting, one who does not give up quickly or get discouraged or run away from difficulties. Advent is not for those who seek immediate results but those who learn to wait for the Lord who will act. Like the people of Jeremiah’s time, we too are urged to have confidence in the Lord who will not disappoint.

Make a mental list this advent. Write down your anxieties, expectations, longings and fears. Examine them again and again. Are they that urgent? Which of them can wait? Where is God in all this? Pray that the Lord instructs us the ways of his ‘long view’. It is here we discover hope.

As we wait, what are we to do?

Advent urges the believer/ Christian to ‘value the present moment/ to value time’. Using the present moment not to fall into redundancy or indulgences (drinking, carousing) but to live even now as if God were in our midst! Use the present time / moment to bring God’s presence to others and to the world. The people of Luke’s time thought that Jesus was coming a second time but when this seemed to take so long, many of them gave up and turned to indulgence and drunkenness. Luke urged them to practice vigilance (the act of careful waiting and watching), to be constant in prayer. To be a Christian is not a question of ‘having it made’ . For Luke, vigilance/ patient waiting is the prize of victory.

Lord we pray this Advent, teach us persistence, teach us to learn to build upon the initial enthusiasm to provide another service. Reawaken the gift of generosity of time for others and being vigilant that we do not lose this gift. As we share this Eucharist may we vow to continue the cause of Christ in everyday life and never lose the need to be nourished by Jesus our savior to be born, the bread of life. 

-Fr Anthony

LISTEN HERE to the Audio Recordings of the Readings of Sunday, November 28th, 2021, 1st Week of Advent

SELECT HERE for the Readings of Sunday, November 28th,              1st  Week of Advent

Lord we pray this Advent, teach us persistence, teach us to learn to build upon the initial enthusiasm to provide another service. Reawaken the gift of generosity of time for others and being vigilant that we do not lose this gift. As we share this Eucharist may we vow to continue the cause of Christ in everyday life and never lose the need to be nourished by Jesus oUr savior to be born, the bread of life.
-Fr. Anthony

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