Watch with hope
The story is told about a soldier who was on night watch duty who fell asleep. Suddenly he heard his commander shout: “Soldier, what are you doing?” The wise soldier slowly opened his eyes, looked up to the sky, folded his hands together as if in prayer, and softly uttered “Amen!”
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Today is the First Sunday of Advent, the time for preparation for Christmas. In today’s Gospel (Luke 21:25-28, 34-36), Jesus tells us all to be vigilant and watchful in prayer. And instead of being frightened by what is happening around us, let us be filled with hope and gratitude because our redemption is at hand.
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Focus on the Lord, not on the load. Let us not focus so much on our personal and family problems, on our disappointments with what is happening in our country and in the world, to the point that we lose hope. Let us hold on to God’s promise that He has a plan, and He is with us always and in all ways, through it all.
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The anxieties of daily life can trap us and weigh us down. But if we live in the presence of God, we are able to rise above to see the “big picture.” Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we experience that peace which this world cannot give nor take away. Come Holy Spirit!
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I had an early “Christmas moment” when I was visited by the family of Haydee and Paul Cang who came all the way from Cebu with their children and grandchildren in the early morning of Nov. 24, just to be blessed as a family. I felt their closeness and joy as a family and their simple but deep faith in God. So inspiring to feel the sincere respect and love for each other, and their message of hope for the future. I couldn’t help but tell them as they were leaving: “Are you sure, you are not angels, pretending to be visitors just dropping by?” That evening, they flew back to Cebu, leaving behind a hopeful message that goodness still abounds.
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Be a hope giver. Let us not forget our role to give hope to all kinds of people we meet. Let us not become whisperers of doom and gloom. Let us help others to be strong and bloom. Do people feel better about themselves and their situation, because they encountered you?
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Don’t be a hope killer. Don’t kill the hopes of people around you. Don’t negate or diminish their aspirations. And don’t steal their hopes and dreams by stealing the little money that belongs to them.
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As we light up our Christmas lights, and today, as we light the candle of hope, the first candle of Advent, let us also help light up the life of people around us. Let us be generous with praise, affirmation, gratitude, and encouragement. It takes very little to make the people around you to light up and lighten up. All it takes is a smile, a kind word, a good deed, a pat at the back, or a thumbs-up.
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BTS! Believe, Trust, Surrender! The Lord reminds us especially as we prepare to welcome Him at Christmas, to hold and to hope, and to give hope to the many people around us who are burdened with sufferings, anxieties, and oppressive conditions. May we all become bearers and agents of hope.
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It’s time to go beyond “selfie” mode. Let us go from “I” to “we,” from “they” to “us.” Please remember: True loving and caring happens when you go beyond your “comfort zone,” and go the “extra mile,” and give the extra smile.
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Instead of constantly worrying, why don’t you go to hope mode? Sharing with you this thought I read somewhere: “Worry never climbed a hill; worry never paid a bill; worry never dried a tear; worry never calmed a song to sing; worry never did a worthwhile thing; where worry ends, faith begins; don’t worry about anything; pray to God about everything!”
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To those who worry so much about their health, we say: Trust God more; worry less, for the more you worry, the more you hurry to the cemetery.
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Please beware of scammers. There have been reported incidents in social media where I am featured as an endorser of health products or medical supplements. Take note, I don’t endorse any. Also, I don’t solicit funds using the social media. So, unless you hear it from me personally, please don’t be fooled by scammers. Let us be vigilant and watchful.
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A moment with the Lord:
Lord, help me to be vigilant and watchful, and be hopeful through it all. Amen.
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momentswithfrjerry@gmail.com
