Vigilance: Living in Faith and Hope

HOMILY: Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Luke 12:32-48

7 August 2022 

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA

Yesterday, I was shocked to have found out that Filipina actress par excellence Cherie Gil had passed away at only 59 years of age. She died “young” never even having reached the official age for a senior citizen. It was not something I was expecting but looking back, it seems she had prepared herself. Back in February she was featured on the cover of Mega magazine with a bald head. And she spoke of getting rid of all her clothes that were symbols of her past. She packed up and left for New York. She claimed it was a journey into her rebirth but I feel she knew she was headed into a battle she may not return from. She had prepared herself mentally, emotionally, spiritually and physically. Tayo ba, alam natin ang nakalaan sa ating hinararap? Nakahanda ba tayo?

Right in the middle of Ordinary Time, we are given a gospel passage that centres on the theme which we often associate with the end of the liturgical year and the Season of Advent — that of vigilance. Ang pagiging alisto. Kailangan laging handa sa pagkilos o pagtugon. Jesus in the Gospel of Luke admonishes His disciples to be vigilant, to be ready with their belts fastened and their lamps burning. By telling His disciples to tuck their flowing robes under their belts, Jesus wants them to be ready for action, for hard work or even for battle. If they keep their robes flowing about them, they cannot run or else they will trip all over themselves. Then, they are also to light their lamps suggesting that they are to remain watchful even at night for the master’s arrival. The unpredictability of the Lord’s return is further compared to a thief breaking into one’s house. “Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.” (Luke 12:39) Hence, every disciple must be prepared at all times for no one knows on which day the Lord will come… We don’t know the day nor the hour.

Vigilance is normally associated with Christ’s second coming. We often fear this because it is the time when we shall all be judged. We know that to manage fear, we simply have to be prepared. How are we to live ready? While we wait for the Lord’s return, the best preparation is the living of every moment fully. Preparedness does not mean simply waiting and doing nothing. One must be responsible during the wait. While servants must be vigilant for the master’s return, they too must be faithful in carrying out the master’s will. What the servants do while the master is away proves to be the very test of their fidelity to him and his will. That is why Jesus says at the end of the Gospel that everyone shall be held accountable. “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” (Luke 12:48) Although, this ultimately refers to our final judgement, we can still find meaning in this in our day-to-day life. Isa ito sa pinanghahawakan ng ilang mga pamilyang may kaya sa buhay. Sa kanilang paniniwala, sila ay biniyayaaan ng Diyos ng higit sa kanilang pangangailangan dahil sila ang inaasahang magbabahagi ng grasya ng Diyos sa mga salat at kapus-palad. Hindi ba’t pinaghihinayangan natin ang mga matatalino na ginagamit lamang ang kanilang galing upang pagyamanin ang sarili kahit yurakan nila ang kanilang kapwa? We expect better from them. Hindi ba’t silang may mataas na pinag-aralan, silang mas nakakaalam at may karanasan ang ating inaasahan na mamuno o lumutas sa problema ng lipunan? We simply have to live according to what God has given us. If he blessed us with a family, we should care for our family to the best of our ability. If He gave us a job, we must do our job well. We have to simply do what is expected of us as Christians — be just in our relationships, be prayerful, and be true and faithful to God in all our ways. Our unfailing fidelity in the smallest of these daily responsibilities builds in us that habit and attitude of vigilance! It allows us to be sensitive and keen to moments of Jesus’ manifestations in our life and ready to respond to the call of discipleship — to serve where there is a need. 

The Letter to the Hebrews highlights another element of preparation and waiting — Faith. Abraham is an example of this vigilance borne out of one’s deep faith in God. Abraham’s faith in God’s promise to him, rendered him ready to leave the familiarity of one land for the uncertainty of another. This reminds me again of the late Cherie Gil. Who is to say that because she was prepared to begin a new chapter of life in the US, she had the opportunity to receive the best treatment for her cancer? Ang mga nag-mimigrate abroad, hindi basta bastang nag-alsabalotan. They prepare by ensuring they will have a place to live there, a job prospect in that country and schools for their children to go to. Moreover, they have to settle all their business concerns and sell off properties and assets to secure funds and tide them over while they settle in. Although these matters require a lot of preparation, they still entail a leap of faith.  Abraham himself did the same when he believed God’s declaration that his wife Sarah was to bear a child, despite the fact that they were long past their childbearing years.  Likewise, Abraham’s faith was made apparent when he wilfully prepared to sacrifice his only son, Isaac to please the Lord. Through the witnessing of Abraham, we find that God does not fail His people and He rewards fidelity with blessings beyond expectations. During each mass we have the chance to express our faith in God’s providence. When it is time for offertory, we ask the Lord to bless us and I see people open their palms, letting go of whatever they are holding onto in a symbolic gesture of offering back to God, and receiving His graces. 

Waiting for the Lord whether in unexpected moments of our life or in the Parousia (Second Coming), need not be frightful if we know what we must do.  We must ready our hearts and our spirits for much is expected of us. One Bible commentator says “It is not about getting ready, but about living ready.”  Be ready here and now and leave the future to take care of itself.  A life so lived in the present takes care of itself – and its future. Since we do not know the hour nor the day, Jesus urges all of us to be prepared, to be vigilant. We do so when we strive always to live in the presence of the Lord. Vigilance demands that we live lives of faith at all times. As a people of faith, we wait for the Lord in hope.