“BE FAITHFUL AND BE PATIENT.”

19^th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Wis 18:6-9; Heb 11:1-2,8-19; Lk 12:32-48

A few years ago, I volunteered to work in the Centre called “Home for the Sick and Malnourished Children” of the Missionaries of Charity Sisters in Matina, Davao City. The very poor parents, who can’t afford to take care for their sick children, can bring there kids there. The children are mostly infected with tuberculosis or TB. They can take their children from there when they are already well.

I went there three times a week. During those times, I really enjoyed my time with the children playing and singing. Most children came from far places that their parents could visit them only sometimes.

The most common questions that they asked and cried out from their mouths were, “When is my father coming?” “When is my mother coming?”

To ease the pain of these little ones, I said, “Your father and your mother will come soon.” I told them to believe and have patience. Just wait and see. And you will see them face to face.

In a similar way, we cry out for the time when we will meet God face to face. We cry out for the day when we share the fullness of life, when we stay with God forever. However, for the meantime, we must trust in the promise of God to us in the future. We must believe and have patience. We just wait and see!

We heard of the faith and patience of the people of Israel in the first reading. God’s people waited and prepared for the Lord’s coming to free them from slavery of Egypt. They offered sacrifices in secret. And they lived according to God’s Law. Indeed, God came and delivered them from slavery.

We also heard of the faith and patience of Abraham in our second reading. Abraham obeyed God and left his homeland for the Promised Land. He just lived in tents with his family, all of their lives. They were looking forward to the city with foundations whose architect and maker is God. Abraham died in faith even without receiving what had been the promise. But in his heart Abraham desired for the Promise Land. He patiently waited for it. And now, he is rejoicing with God. He inherited the promise of God to him. He shined in faith and patience.

Our Gospel today tells us to be faithful and patient. Jesus said that blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant. The servant will become great in the eyes of the master because of his faithfulness and patience. Then, the master will sit down with him and eat with him.

The Gospel invites us to persevere in our faith like of the people of Israel. It invites us to be faithful and patient like Abraham. It is through faith and patient that we become great.

We take a few moments to review our own personal faith and patience. Are we faithful to our Divine Master, our God? Do we trust in His promise? Are we faithful and patient to do His commandments? If so, we are longing to see Him face to face. We are prepared to welcome Him. We cry out in our hearts that “we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our savior Jesus Christ, our Lord.”