Bangon Marikina! Marikina Kaya Natin!

Listening to the Spirit

Lord God, we adore you because you have come to us in the past.
You have spoken to us in the Law of Israel.
You have challenged us in the words of the prophets.
You have shown us in Jesus what you are really like.

Lord God, we adore you because you still come to us now.
You come to us through other people and their love and concern for us.
You come to us through men and women who need our help.
You come to us as we worship you with your people.

Lord God, we adore you because you will come to us at the end.
You will be with us at the hour of death.
You will still reign supreme when all human institutions fail.
You will still be God when our history has run its course.

We welcome you, the God who comes.
Come to us now in the power of Jesus Christ our Lord.

- Caryl Micklem, "Contemporary Prayers for Public Worship"

Listening to the Word

Mark 13:33-37

Beware, keep alert;for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”

Reflection

Bangon Marikina! Get up. Rise up. You will find this slogan (Bagong Marikina) everywhere in Marikina City. This slogan delivers a positive message, a message of hope to the people who recently hit by the disaster. Indeed, the typhoon Ulysses left the people in desperation. All the materials in the house were destroyed. Many houses in the city are still “buried” in mud and many people still stay in some Evacuation Centers.

Two weeks after the typhoon, people still cleaning their houses. The government keeps doing the cleaning operation in some areas of Marikina City. Typhoon Ulysses destroyed not only materials or houses but also the livelihood of some people throughout the city.

Marikina Kaya Natin. In the midst of this disaster, we have received so many donations, relief goods coming from individuals and communities. In fact, the Social Service of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish keep packing and distributing goods to the people. Many groups keep coming to our place, giving food and cleaning the roads. Indeed, another slogan, Marikina Kaya Natin affirms clearly the power of solidarity among us. This solidarity offers a glimpse of hope to look up, to rise, and to look forward. Malapit na Pasko.

Malapit na Pasko! This is the Good News. Christmas is near. After this disaster, today I went to bless a house. The first house blessing after the typhoon. The house is located just a few meters from the Marikina River. What surprises me is that the house was so clean. Not only that, the house that was underwater and mud now is decorated with Christmas ornaments and a Christmas tree. This Christmas decoration, this family reminds me to rise from the mud, to stay awake, to be alert, and get ready to welcome the Savior.

And this is the invitation of Jesus for each one of us in today’s gospel. Be alert and watch, for you don’t know when the time will come. Jesus uses a little image which is important but can be easily overlooked. He uses the image of a landowner who goes on a journey but leaves his servants “each with his own work” to do.

“The challenge is not just to stay awake, but to be awake so as to do the work of bringing light and life to God’s world. Waiting and watching out of fear is passive and paralyzing. Waiting in faith is eager and exciting. We can wait to expect to be caught, or expecting to be caught up in our part in his coming into this world.”

As we enter into the Advent season and as we light the candle of Advent (the candles of hope, love, joy, and peace), let us also lit the candle in our hearts, the same candles, the candle of hope, love, joy, and peace. Let us rise together to welcome Jesus, our hope, love, joy, and peace.

Reflection Questions

1. As vigilant gatekeepers watching for the Lord of the house, what signs do you observe that tell you God is present in the world today and in your life?

2. “He leaves home and places his servants in charge.” Am I aware of my responsibility to do God’s work?

3. In this advent season, in what ways in which I can extend the message of hope, love, joy, and peace to the people around me, especially those who are in difficult moments?