Watch and Pray (Sunday, Advent 1, Year B)

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Introduction

The work of a watchman or a gateman goes beyond wearing of uniform or opening/closing of gates. The word “watch-man” suggests that the primary responsibility of a watchman is to keep watch. To keep watch is not to “sit-don-dey-look” as Nigerians would say. It involves being ALERT, SOBER, AWAKE, VIGILANT, AGILE, PROACTIVE and SMART. Amongst other things, a watchman must have the capacity to WAIT and OBSERVE. It is a job that demands a great deal of patience and tact. It is not easy to wait; it is even much more difficult to be alert, awake and vigilant at all times.


What has VIGILANCE got to do with the Season of ADVENT?

Today is the first Sunday of Advent. Advent is a season that precedes the Christmas celebration. It is a period of expectation and preparation for the commemoration of the coming of Christ at Christmas. It is also the period Christians are reminded that the Christ who once came in the flesh thousands of years ago will come again no longer as a baby but as a judge. And because the Advent season is a period of expectation, Christians are encouraged to be VIGILANT, AWAKE, ALERT and WATCHFUL. 


How VIGILANCE played out in the readings?

Experience has shown that people are generally awake, expectant and alert when they are waiting for something good and favorable. The One whose coming we await during Advent is Christ, the Redeemer. The coming of Christ is good news because in His capacity as the redeemer and savior, He is coming to redeem what has been defaced and to save what has been lost. Humanity has been defaced by sin and evil. Humanity has lost its glory because of sin. Humanity is thus in dire need of the redeemer.  

The first reading (cf. Isa. 63) recounts the outcry of the people of Israel who just returned from exile as they yearned for total redemption, restoration and reformation. They were defaced and catapulted into exile on account of their sin. And as they thought of and paced towards freedom, they cried out for the coming of their Father, their redeemer and God. 

In the second reading (1 Cor. 1:3-9), St Paul praises the Corinthian Christians for not lacking in spiritual gift even as they waited for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

In the gospel reading (cf. Mark 13:33-37), Jesus advises the disciples to WATCH and pray, to WATCH and again to WATCH. In order to underline the seriousness of it, He admonishes them three times to WATCH. It is important that the disciples should be watchful because being servants, they can’t afford to be found not doing the will of the master at the master’s return of which they do not know.   


How do the readings apply to us? 

None of us would like to be robbed by sleep even as great opportunities that would turn our lives around pass us by. And none of us would like to be distracted a bit even as we station and gainfully engage ourselves at our various duty posts. All these demand that we remain VIGILANT, ACTIVE, ALERT and WATCHFUL. Not just merely watching and waiting, but doing so in good works: LOVING, PRAYING and LIVING BLAMELESSLY. Remember that the Master would return, but let Him not find us asleep whenever He comes. 



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