Gospel Reflections for Life-Promotion

INTRODUCING FR. FREDDIE'S GOSPEL REFLECTIONS

for Multi-purpose

1. These reflections are not written like an essay, but in six precise steps. Choose what you like.

2. They are not meant only for preaching homilies, but for a multi-purpose: for teaching, prayer (either personal or common), reflections and socio-pastoral guidance.

3. They can be used outside the liturgical celebrations also on any other occasions for preaching (by using the same text), private and common prayers, Bible Vigil, Adoration, Prayer Service, Gospel Sharing, conferences, talks, etc.

4. Only the Gospel text prescribed for the Sunday Liturgy in the Catholic Church is used for these reflections, and not the First and Second Readings. The latter are quoted only for reference. Those who want to include them, have to find their own applications.

5. These reflections are written from a pastoral and spiritual perspective, and not from academic or exegetical.

6. The preachers have an option to develop only the focus-statements given in Step 2 on their own into a full-fledged homily. If they want to make their homily shorter, they need not include all the points/thoughts written by the author; instead can select what they like, and (if they want) add their own stories/ anecdotes/ examples.

7. The title, “Gospel Reflections for Life-Promotion” indicates the author’s intention to highlight the life-sustaining or life-saving issues in our world and society in the midst of anti-life forces.

8. Though much of the material presented in these reflections is author's, no claim is made for the originality of all the thoughts and ideas. They are adopted from various authors.

9. Reproduction of these reflections in any form needs prior permission.

Thursday, 30 November 2023

First Sunday of Advent (B)

 YEAR B

ADVENT SEASON

First Sunday of Advent [Mk 13:33-37]

03.12.2023

The Necessity of Watchfulness to Meet the Lord

Readings: (1) Is 63:16-17.19; 64:2-7 (2) 1 Cor  1:3-9

 

  1. Theme in brief:

          Readiness to meet the Lord whenever he comes

  1. Focus Statement:

Since we do not know the exact time when the Lord will come to meet us, we should always be watchful and be prepared so that when he comes at an unexpected hour we are not found asleep but faithfully carrying out the duties given to us.

  1. Explanation of the text

Since no one knows the exact time of the final coming of Christ, there is a necessity for his disciples to be ready and watchful for his coming at all times. To illustrate this truth, in today’s gospel Jesus gives a little parable about a man going on a journey and the uncertainty of the exact time of his return (13:34). Naturally it refers to his departure at ascension and return at Parousia. The servants who are put in charge of duties (13:34) are Christians. They represent the whole Church waiting in alertness for his second coming by remaining faithful to the mission of establishing God’s Kingdom on earth entrusted to her.

In order to be best prepared for his return, the Lord instructs his disciples to be watchful and keep alert always, since no one knows the day or the exact hour of his coming (13:32-33). They should be as watchful as a doorkeeper (13:34); and should not he found sleeping when he returns from his journey (13:36). The doorkeeper or gatekeeper defends the house against any dangerous sign or intruder. Unless authorized, he is not supposed to open the gate for anybody else than the master.

The possibility of the master’s return at any time is presented in terms of fourfold division of the day as per the Romans: evening, midnight, cockcrow and dawn (13:35). Some scholars say that this fourfold division is very symbolic. In those days in Palestine hardly anybody used to travel at night due to dangers on the road. The mention of midnight may indicate the darkest moments or the time of temptations and trials in our life. Again, mention of cockcrow may have a reference to the cockcrow after Peter’s denial of Christ during his Passion.

We notice that in today’s gospel Jesus instructs his disciples about four aspects of discipleship: their dedicated service; watchfulness concerning the uncertainty of the time of his second coming and the danger of evil forces against which they must fight; various responsibilities entrusted to them; and their faithfulness and accountability towards these responsibilities. Among all these, the word “watch” (or keep alert/ keep awake) is repeated four times (13:33,34,35,36). This shows the insistence of Jesus about watchfulness as one of the strongest qualities of Christian discipleship. There is all the likelihood of forgetfulness about this quality as it happened to his disciples so soon in the following chapter. In it we read, as Jesus was undergoing a mental agony in the garden of Gethsemane, they lacked alertness and fell asleep. There too, he repeated twice that they should keep awake and pray (14:34,37).

Further, the word “watchfulness” has the connotation of "applying one's mind" to something or concentrating one's attention. Watchfulness or vigilance can also mean a precautionary measure taken at the time of fight, calamity or danger. Hence, Jesus’ appeal may imply readiness to fight against sin and evil forces throughout one’s life. It may also mean that the Church’s fight against all the evil forces that work against God’s Kingdom will continue till the end of the world. 

  1. Application to today's context

Advent (which means “coming”) is a time to become conscious of the Lord’s coming in manifold ways. Spiritual authors say that the Lord comes in history, mystery and majesty. He came in history when he was born as a baby in Bethlehem and we are preparing to celebrate that event at Christmas. He comes in mystery when we meet him in the sacraments, especially in the Hoy Eucharist. He will come again in majesty and glory at the end of time. So we wait to meet him in all these three ways. On the first Sunday of Advent the Church focuses our attention not on the first but on the second or final coming of Christ, not in bodily form but in glorious and spiritual state. Therefore, Advent is not only to celebrate the past event of incarnation at Christmas, but also to prepare for “the advent of Christ” at the end of the world. We can also personally apply this to the coming of the Lord to meet us at the end of our earthly journey (that is, at death). As St. Paul says, the whole Church is eagerly waiting for that day when Christ will hand over the Kingdom to God the Father, after putting all his enemies (including sin and death) under his feet (1Cor 15:24-26).

Today, the Church invites us to be ready and be prepared to meet the Lord whenever he comes; either at our death or at the end of the world. We do not know the exact time of both these events. Hence, our Lord teaches us to watch and wait for him always. First of all, watchfulness is an awareness of the heart. It leads us to focus our energies and attention to the presence of the Master even when we feel his absence. When we are alert and watchful we can recognize in faith his hidden presence even in ordinary activities, in the humdrum of life and even in our trials and tribulations. He is the Lord of surprises because he comes suddenly and unexpectedly, sometimes even at night – a time of darkness that refers to trials and temptations in our life (as we have noted in or explanation). A vigilant faith gives us the energy to persevere in times of trials and tribulations of the present. The quality and intensity of our waiting depends on the intensity of our desire to meet him. We should enter into Advent with a profound desire for a Saviour because we still need to be saved from satanic or evil forces in us and outside us that oppose God’s Kingdom. Of course, in order to recognize him we need eyes of faith. A committed disciple is the one who is in a permanent expectation of his/her Master.

Secondly, to be watchful and alert also implies becoming aware of what is happening to us each day. Though prayer and spiritual reflections have a number of objectives, one of them is awareness. Prayer makes us aware of not only God’s presence but also of our own weaknesses and inadequacies. It also makes us aware of what God wants to reveal to us through various events in our and others’ lives as well as through various events taking place in our world. Every minute of our lives has an eternal significance. Without this prayerful awareness, the Lord may come and the Lord may go, or Christmas may come and Christmas may go, but it will not make any difference for us. It will come and pass by us without affecting us in any way. Prayer, Word of God and faithful reception of sacraments are the most powerful means available for us to be vigilant and alert. The time of Advent is a time to use these means more ardently.

Thirdly, alertness or watchfulness involves assuming responsibility for the present instead of speculating about the unknown future. There is a fear of the unknown in all of us. As humans, we have a tremendous curiosity to know the future course of events with a desire to control the future. Quite many people satisfy this anxiety by consulting soothsayers, astrologers, horoscopes, etc. Today, the Lord invites us to surrender all our anxieties about the future into his hands and put our hope in him who alone is the Lord of the future. Like the servants in today’s parable, our Master has put us in charge of duties and responsibilities and has gone away. When he returns we must give an account of our conduct in his absence. Once we are faithful to the duties assigned to us, it does not matter at what time the Master will return. This puts on us a great responsibility to live our life in such way that we make every day of our life fit to meet him. Even if he comes at any time we will not be caught unawares, because, as we have already explained, awareness makes us apply our minds to concentrate on or to pay attention to our responsibilities. This type of concentration motivates us to discern the signs of the present times and live a life of commitment in the present.

Fourthly, alertness means to move from a state of being spiritually asleep to that of being spiritually awake. Christians are called to be so careful as not to fall into a spiritual slumber. As today’s parable says, the Lord seems to have gone on a long journey. The time of the Master’s absence can be a time of trial of faith, a time when we are tempted to doze off. The Lord has entrusted to us definite duties and responsibilities as parents, teachers, jobholders, leaders, members of committees/ councils/ clubs/ associations in family and society. This text leads to self-examination whether we are faithful to our duties or sleeping over them. When our Lord comes, what a disaster it will be if he will find us sleeping, secure in ourselves, off our guard, taking it easy, not minding our work and duty. Waiting for a long time for anything or anybody is boring and tedious. Some years ago, I had quite a few such boring experiences in my mission field where the trains or buses were not coming on time. There were occasions when I had returned home out of impatience and frustration when the scheduled bus was too late, just to hear from others that the bus had come after I left. But ordinary people exercised an enormous patience to wait till the bus came, as they had no other choice in those days. Similarly, when we are impatient, careless, and negligent in spiritual and other duties, we shall miss the bus. Only when we are watchful, when he comes, we will be found faithfully carrying out the duties entrusted to us. Advent is a time to wait for God with tremendous patience and unwavering hope.

Fifthly, watching and waiting involve a tension between uncertainty and hope. When we wait for a bus or train we wait with the hope and expectation that it will come. Similarly, whenever we wait for a person we expect to meet him/her. Unlike the only bus going to a village in regions mentioned above, which may not turn up at all, the Lord’s coming is certain; but like such buses or trains which sometimes turn up several hours later, the exact time of his coming is uncertain. Due to this uncertainty or delay, there is a tension or anxiety in our minds. If not addressed properly, it might generate a tendency in us to settle into a life of tepidity, despair, impatience, doubt and postponement of duties. On the contrary, alertness or vigilance makes us very cautious to face any danger and fight any evil, like the gatekeeper (watchman) mentioned in today’s parable. In Peter’s First Letter we read: "Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around looking for someone to devour" (5:8). He advises his community to resist him and remain steadfast in faith (5:9). The gospel invites us to examine our seriousness in resisting the devil or evil in and around us.

Response to God's Word

How seriously do we prepare to meet the Lord as he comes to us in history, mystery and majesty? How ardently do we use the three powerful means available for us to be vigilant and alert, namely prayer, Word of God and devout reception of sacraments? In faith, do we surrender all our anxieties about the future into his hands and put our hope or trust in him who alone is the Lord of the future? Do we sleep over our duties entrusted to us as parents, teachers, leaders and heads of organization, or are we faithful to the tasks entrusted to us? Do we recognize the Lord when He comes in our day-to-day events and situations? When we do not feel like doing our duties faithfully, more than God’s voice, are we attuned to the devil’s refrain: “No hurry; don’t worry?” How serious are we in resisting the devil or evil in and around us?

  1. A prayer

Grant O Lord that we may be ever prepared to welcome you at any time of our life by remaining faithful to the duties and responsibilities you have entrusted to us. Come, Lord Jesus and protect us from all anxieties. Come and fulfil our heart’s desire as we wait in joyful and blessed hope of your coming. For the Kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and forever.  Amen.

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