Waiting can be frustrating; we can see it as a waste of time. Or we can use the time while we are waiting for something productively, to continue our faithful following of God. Fr Richard reflects on today’s readings from Mass.
Readings for Thursday of week 21 of ordinary time (memorial of St Monica) can be found here.
It’s estimated that over the course of an average lifetime, a person may spend anything from many months to several years just waiting. Waiting at traffic lights, waiting in the doctor’s surgery, waiting for the kettle to boil, waiting for the bus … the list goes on. Some people cannot abide waiting, viewing it as a waste of time. Others might adapt to it rather better. They might use the time to read a few pages of their book, offer up a few prayers, or simply admire the scenery that is around them.
In today’s Gospel reading Jesus describes two different attitudes towards waiting. The subject of his parable is the servant waiting for the master to come home, which is an image for Christians waiting for Jesus himself to return at the end of time. We can either use this time of waiting wisely, like the faithful servant, who is ready when the master returns, or we can waste it, as the wicked servant does. The big question of course, is this: how do we wait well for the coming of the Lord? How do we stay ready at all times, like the faithful servant? What is the secret?
Well of course, there isn’t really a secret. Paul gives us the answer in today’s reading from 1 Corinthians. He says to his readers that they “will not be without any of the gifts of the Spirit while you are waiting for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed; and he will keep you steady and without blame until the last day”. The same, of course, is true for us. There is a sense in which we are not really waiting for Jesus to come, like those servants whose master has gone away. For he is with us always, thanks to the Holy Spirit. Therefore, if we open ourselves to the Spirit in worship and prayer, we will receive the gifts we need to wait well, to remain faithful, to continue serving without losing heart. Paul finishes today’s readings with three wonderful words “God is faithful”. He never gives up on us, despite our many failings. And so his faithfulness enables us to be faithful, so that when Jesus does come again, whenever that might be, we are ready to greet him.
Mass today is in St Dyfrig and St Samson at 10am.
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