Unpredictable!

Weekly Missionary Reflection
Sunday, 03 December 2023
FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Isa. 63:16b-17; 64:1,3b-8; Ps. 80:2ac,3b,15-16,18-19; 1Cor. 1:3-9; Mark. 13:33-37.

“Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come”
(Mark 13:33)

We have entered the Advent season, a time of preparing our hearts for the coming of Jesus. How will He come? It is unpredictable! What we can do is only to be alert. Gospel reading that we will ponder on the first Sunday of Advent invites us to begin this moment of preparation with “Be alert!.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus teaches His disciples (in the past and now!) to be watchful (v. 33-37). It means Jesus reminds us not to be negligent in doing the mission that God has entrusted to us on the day of His return (v. 36). By responding to our calling to ministry wholeheartedly, we are fulfilling God’s commandment to be alert. How is it to be alert?

Jesus describes how we should live with alertness, it is like a man traveling abroad. He leaves home and places his servants in charge. Jesus states that nobody knows the exact day and time of His coming. Therefore, we have to be always alert and watchful. Every believer is like a servant assigned to watch and do the task faithfully. This includes living in holiness, doing good deeds, and becoming the light to the world. We are called to be Jesus Christ’s witness through our deeds in our daily lives. The most simple way of being alert is by praying. Prayer keeps us close to God, asking for His guidance and strength in every step of our lives. Prayer also helps us to understand and do His will faithfully.

Our readiness will eventually be tested at the time of God’s coming. As the faithful servant is assigned with more responsibilities, we will take part in the Kingdom of God. Today’s Gospel invites us to reflect on how we have lived as His followers. Do we live in readiness, doing our tasks faithfully and persisting in prayer? Or does our alertness only come in two main moments: Christmas and Easter?

Let us prepare ourselves by being alert and solemnly serving God. Our mission today is to serve the Church sincerely, persist in prayer, and confess our sins. 

(Ignasius Lede – Commission for Mission of The Bishop’s Conference of Indonesia)

DAILY DEDICATED PRAYER

Lord, our Father, I present my today prayer, thought, word, work, joy, and sorrow in unity with Your Son, Jesus Christ, who always presents Himself in the Eucharist for the salvation of the world. May the Holy Spirit animating Jesus, also be my guidance and strength today so that I am ready to be the witness of Your love.

Together with St. Mary, Mother of Jesus, and the Church, in particular, I present my prayer for our Pope and apostle prayer of the Indonesian Church of this month:

For persons with disabilities
We pray that people living with disabilities may be at the center of attention in society and that institutions may offer inclusive programs that value their active participation.

Climate change
We pray to have a grateful heart that God is willing to be a human living in this world and with this gratitude, we are encouraged to individually or collectively overcome the problem of climate change and environmental damage that is threatening this earth.

Amen.