Wait For The Lord

Written by BPNews Team | 06 September 2012

SOLEMNITY OF OUR LADY OF PENAFRANCIA
(White) Cycle B, Year II (September 23, 2012)
Gn 3:9-15/Apoc 11:19-12:16/Lk 2:27-35

If there is one thing that we usually hate, it is waiting. We do not want to wait because we find it boring and time consuming or wasting. But experience tells us that many times in life we have to wait. We have to wait when we have a meeting or reunion because majority of those who attend come late. We have to wait a lot of time when we travel by tricycle, jeepney, and bus or even ferry boat so that the vehicle may be fully loaded with passengers before it can leave for our destination. We have to wait when we do transaction with the banks, stores, offices, and others. A lot of time is really wasted just for waiting. But we have no choice since that is our situation in life. If we have other choices, we would really skip such waiting period and proceed directly with our transactions.

Jeremy Myers says that there are sayings that prove the importance of waiting, namely: "Good things come to those who wait" and "Some things are worth waiting for." Just last month, Jennifer Vasilakos was on the street of Santa Barbara, California, trying to raise $20,000 for a stem cell procedure that she badly needed. She just waited and waited there on the streets, asking for help from passersby and helping other people who were lost in that area when a man stopped and asked her for driving directions. The man gave her $50 and then returned after an hour and gave her a check amounting to $20,000 – all the money she needed for her operation. It turned out that the man was the billionaire Ty Warner, the founder of Ty, Inc., the Beanie baby company. Had she lost her patience and not waited, she would never meet her generous benefactor.

If there are good things that come to those who wait, what then are the things that you want to wait for your entire life? If somebody will give you one billion pesos if you just wait for it for your entire life, will you be willing to do so? Surely, many will be tempted to wait for their entire life to have one billion pesos. But then, is it worth the waiting if you receive the money and just die a day after you receive it? Perhaps yes because you can give it to your family, relatives and friends; but then, it will not serve you anything.

On the other hand, there are really things that are worth waiting for our entire life. In the gospel, we see how the old Simeon attains his dream – that of being able to see by his own eyes the Messiah promised long time ago to the Jews. He is able to attain his dream by waiting patiently and actively for the coming of the Saviour. He waits for the Lord by living a just and devout life and by being active to the temple's activities. He has waited all his life and at the end of his life, there appears to him the Holy Infant Jesus Christ who many saints have wanted to see but are unable to see.

Many of us are waiting for the realization of our dreams: many wait for their salary upgrade; some wait for their work promotion; others for their man of their dream or prince charming; still others for their passing of board examinations, etc. These certainly are worth waiting for. But they are not worth waiting for our entire life. Only God is worth waiting for our entire life because only God can satisfy our innermost desires and only He can give us eternal life.

This Sunday we celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lady of Penafrancia, the Ina of all of us Bicolanos. Mary is an example and model of the one who had waited for God throughout all her life. Her waiting was an active one since she waited in constant prayer, service and self-offering to God the Most High. Because of her humble and patient waiting, God blessed her by making her the Mother of our Saviour Jesus Christ. Let us be like the old Simeon and the young Mary our Mother. Let us imitate them in their active waiting by making all our actions and desires an expression of our love for God and of our service to His Church and to our neighbours especially those who are in need. Happy Fiesta to all! Viva Nuestra Senora de Penafrancia!