HINTAYAN BLUES

The season of advent is one occasion that we always look forward to. The moment we see the beautiful advent wreath already fixed at the altar, we feel some sense of excitement in anticipation of some greater things to come. It is the season of joyful waiting.

From this Sunday until the fourth week of Advent. We would see the candles being lighted one by one. It may seem, yet it’s worth all the waiting. We patiently wait the unfolding of events until they reach a dramatic climax the coming of Christmas.

The gospel today comes very straight forward. It is also about waiting- while remaining awake, ”Ang sinasabi ko sa inyo’y sinasabi ko sa lahat. Maging handa kayo!”

It comes like more of a warming. For one can anticipate the coming of the Lord without really preparing for it. We have our own preoccupations. Sometimes, the waiting can be boring, especially when it takes too long. We lose the enthusiasm. The excitement is gone.

Once a man shared his sentiment. "Dati-rati pag umuuwi ako galing trabaho, sumasalubong sa akin ang misis ko – nakangiti. Dala-dala na niya ang tsinelas ko habang kasunod niya nag aso – tumatahol. Nagyon, nag-iba na nag lahat. Kapag dumarating na ako galing trabaho, sumasalubong na sa akin ang aso – nakangiti. Dala- dala niya ang tsinelas ko habang ang misis ko – tumatahol." Nakakapagod din kasi minsan ang paulit-ulit na paghihintay. It becomes a routine.

Marahil ay naging kainip-inip sa misis ang paghihintay dahil wala na siyang ginawa kundi ang maghintay lamang. It could have been a productive day if she has made herself busy doing her household chores, cooking food, cleaning the bathroom, doing some cross-stitches, etc. By the time the husband came, there could have been that feeling of having a great day waiting for him to come home.

Waiting can be a difficult thing to do. But when we realize that it’s the coming of the Lord that we await, the task becomes a source of joyful anticifation. We make sure that we are always ready. Subalit ang paghihintay na inilalarawan sa ebanghelyo ay hindi lamang basta paghihintay. Inaasahan ng taong umalis na ang kaniyang mga katiwala ay gumagawa ng atas na ibinibigay sa kanila sa kaniyang pagdating habang ang bantay-pinto naman ay matamang nakasubaybay kung kalian siya darating.

In the same way, we go through our usual routine. We continually make use of the gifts that God has given us while waiting for His return. We do our work conscientiously. We carry out the task that he has entrusted to us, we fulfil our individuals mission with a sense of dedication. We continue to grow and allow god’s grace to nourish us. Paul puts it very clearly in the second reading.

"Sapagkat sa inyong pakikipag-isa sa kanya, kayo’y umunlad sa lahat ng paraan, maging sa pananalita at kaalaman." Ang patuloy na pag-unlad na ito sa pananalita at kaalaman ay susukatin sa ating mabungang paggawa at pagtugon sa mga atas na sa ati’y ipinagkaloob.

Ito ang pinakamabuting paraan ng paghihintay kay Kristo. Ito ang tunay na paghahanda sa kaniyang pagdating.

Grace Park Cross December  1, 2000