WATCHING AND SERVING

 

WATCHING AND SERVING

Last year, water suddenly dried up in the taps of many homes in Metro Manila. Dams were reportedly low and water in short supply. For many who were used to nonstop, free-flowing water, the sudden shortage of what they have always taken for granted hit them real hard. They were not ready for it. They have not experienced the same want for a long, long time.

It was something that I, honestly, lived with where I was born and grew up in. Water was scarce and the tap flowed only several times a week, but for only for a few hours each time. We needed to be watchful, for we had no idea what day and what time water was going to be made available by the municipality’s water provider. And when it did flow, we had to save the water in drums, earthen jars, pails, and buckets. It was a case of being watchful and then being of service to one’s self and family.

We kept watch for the opening of the valves. We dropped everything we were doing and saved water. The choice was as clear as the water that we put in all available drums and canisters and jars. Or one simply had no water to use for the rest of the week.

The Gospel passage today speaks more or less about the same thing: “belts cinched tight and lamps lit.” When one is counseled to be watchful, one must show those classic signs of readiness and openness to being on call. One cannot wear his or her hair down, sort of. One cannot lounge recklessly on the couch, oblivious of the unannounced coming of the one much awaited and expected.

Twenty-five years ago, before the age of smartphones, people had beepers and then PDAs or “personal digital assistants.” Managers and CEOs had them—why, even lowly secretaries and administrative assistants made use of them. Nowadays, all those functions of “watching and serving” are done by the more powerful smartphones.

But the same need for watching and serving remains. And this is even more true in our spiritual lives. Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

---------- REFLECTION QUESTION ----------

In your life, what do you need to be watchful of?

Dearest God, there’s only one thing I need to be watchful of—the day when I will finally meet You face to face. I pray I’ll be ready. Amen.

Today, I pray for: _________________________