Vigilance in Faith: Waiting, Hope, and Prayer

First Sunday of Advent - Year B

Isaiah 63,16b-17.19b; 64,2b-7; 1 Corinthians 1,3-9; Mark 13,33-37

A man (Christ) travelling abroad (ascended to heaven) and left home (Church or the world). He placed His servants (the faithful) in charge, each with his work (ministry) for the salvation of the world). He did not inform them about the time of His return. He only charged them with being watchful. Reflecting on the parable of the absent master and his entrusted servants in the Gospel, we are urged to heed the call to "take heed, watch, and pray." This narrative encapsulates the essence of vigilance, echoing the responsibilities of the faithful as caretakers in the absence of their Lord. However, the attitudes toward the delay of the master's return as seen in Isaiah (Is. 63:16-19; 64:2-7) and Paul, tasked with being watchful, differ significantly (1 Cor. 1:3-9).

Isaiah's poignant lamentation, "Why do you let us wander, O Lord, from your ways, and harden our hearts so that we fear you not?” (Is. 63:17), resounds with the desperation felt by the Jewish returnees from the Babylonian exile (after 538 BCE). Their initial zeal waned as they faced persistent hardships upon returning to rebuild Jerusalem and its temple. Their hope diminished, giving way to influences from the surrounding pagan environment, leading them astray from the Lord's ways. Isaiah's prayer bravely confronts the challenges, acknowledging that neither God's anger nor His hidden face resolves the issue of human sinfulness (Is. 64:6,8). He passionately pleads for God's intervention - “Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down” (Is. 64:1) - longing for a revelation of divine glory akin to the times of Moses, believing it could inspire the people toward repentance.

Contrasting this, Paul's letter to the Corinthians addresses a different situation. The Corinthians, a vibrant community deeply entrenched in their faith and eagerly awaiting Christ's revelation, were blessed with the charismatic gifts of the Holy Spirit. Their enthusiastic anticipation, marked by a hopeful "awaiting with eagerness," as Paul describes (1 Cor. 1:7), aligned with the expectations for Christ's servants. Paul expresses unwavering confidence in God's grace to sustain them, assuring them of being kept blameless until the day of the Lord (1 Cor. 1:8). Nonetheless, this assurance does not exempt Paul from vigilant commitment. He invests tears and tremendous effort in guiding this community along the path of the Gospel.

Centuries later, contemporary challenges mirror those faced by Isaiah and Paul. The delay of Christ's return seems to erode the morale of the faithful, leading many into spiritual slumber instead of a vibrant life in Christ. While pockets of fervent and zealous communities exist, their endurance against mounting challenges to their Christian values remains uncertain.

In this context, we echo the plea for divine intervention from the Psalms: "Hearken, O Lord of hosts, look down from heaven, see and protect this vine" (Ps. 80:15). We earnestly implore for divine aid so that we may not stray from God's path but find renewed life in Him, steadfastly calling upon His name (Ps. 80:19).

This collective prayer echoes the yearning for divine intervention and guidance, seeking rejuvenation and strength amidst a world fraught with challenges to the Christian faith.