THE DESIRE OF WAITING

Tuesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time

The night before my diaconate ordination, I could not sleep well because I was so excited, for I have greatly desired it since I was young. It was the best waiting night of my life because I knew I would be ordained the following day.

In the Gospel today, Jesus describes the waiting attitude of a servant in three ways: first, gird your loins; second, light the lamb; and third, wait for the master. These three ways are not all about service but also about the desire to serve the Master in love. If a servant does not desire to see the master when he returns, he cannot be vigilant. But if the servant strongly desires to see the Master, he will be joyfully waiting for the master patiently and vigilantly: He will not sleep until morning to serve the master. If the servant longs to wait and serve the master, he will always gird his loins and be ready to do everything the master wants. He will always hold the light with a lot of oil, waiting to light the way for his master to come home from afar.

The servant’s waiting desire would be the key to waking him vigilantly because he will be greatly rewarded by his master. This is the turning point; the servant will be amazed by his life-changing moment. He will no longer be called a servant but a friend of the master. He will sit at the dining table; He will be served by his master himself.

The letter to the Romans tells us we will be rewarded like vigilant servants through Jesus Christ. Because of Adam’s sin, people became slaves of sin and must die. However, “Where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more.” through the grace of Christ, we become free, and we desire the coming of our master.

Dear brothers and sisters: The decision to become an awake or sleeping servant is ours. But there is something worth thinking about. If we greatly desire to see and serve our Lord vigilantly in love, Jesus will help us change our lives and eternal destination. He will call us friends and invite us to sit at the table in his kingdom. But, before reaching this point, listen to St. Paul's words: “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” (Eph 5:14.)

Awake! The Master is coming upon the Eucharist.