Anytime!

The story is told about a security guard who tried to stay awake while on duty, but succumbed to the weakness of the flesh by 4 a.m. When he woke up, he saw his boss standing beside him. He bowed his head again, then looked up and reverently said, “Amen!” with the Sign of the Cross

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Today is the First Sunday of Advent, the time to prepare for the Lord’s coming. In today’s Gospel (Mk. 13, 33-37), Jesus tells us to be watchful and to be alert because we do not know when the time will come. We all know when we were born, but we do not know when we will die.

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The late Bishop Artemio Rillera, SVD, DD, bishop of La Union, is one example of a servant who was constantly alert and ready to meet his Savior. He died literally with his boots on. On the morning of Nov. 13, 2011, he had an early morning Mass, and was preparing for another when he collapsed due to exhaustion and severe asthma attack. Death came suddenly, but he was ready.

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“Manong,” as we fondly called him, was a priest who was diligent to a fault. I always had the fear that Manong might go anytime because of overwork, but if it came to that, I was also confident he would be ready to meet his God.

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Manong was a real servant, and a humble one at that. What struck me in his funeral Mass at San Fernando, La Union Cathedral last November 22 was that his coffin was just laid on the sanctuary floor. No lights, no flowers, no props — just the coffin draped with a white cloth with a blue cross, befitting of a beloved, humble son of Mary. As a young priest, I often saw him praying with a rosary in hand at the corridor or at the chapel late at night or early morning. He was always on watch and online with God.

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About 200 priests and 16 bishops concelebrated with Archbishop Socrates Villegas, DD, of the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan. Archbishop Villegas described Manong as a humble and an honest servant. One can say that Manong’s whole life was like a perpetual advent. He was zealous in work, earnest in service and devoted in his prayers. He was a very soft-spoken person, not eloquent at all by worldly standards, but when he spoke, people listened because he walked his talk. May we have more bishops of his kind in our country.

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Today is “Handicapped Day.” We remember, pray for, and declare our solidarity with our brothers and sisters who have physical disabilities and deprivations. Allow me to share a song I made for blind girl Fatima Soriano, which should make us more considerate toward the handicapped: “This world, so busy, cannot see, that there are people just like me, who don’t have much in this life, unknown and just on the sides; This world with all its lights and chimes can’t see nor hear nor does it mind the slow, the timid, and the blind, the little ones of my kind.”

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The song goes on to remind us not to be condescending toward the handicapped: “I don’t need pity, just be kind, and give me courage, I’ll be fine! I know this world has its own mind, so thanks for stopping, dropping by!”

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Today, let us ask ourselves: “Have I “handicapped” anyone? Have I been a source of hurt? Have I shattered the future, the hope and dreams of anyone? Have I snuffed the light out of someone because of greed and selfishness? May we be kind to other people’s hopes and dreams!

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On the national level, there are those who have corrupted not only people but also the very institutions of democracy in our country. These national thieves have stolen not only the people’s money, but the people’s hopes and dreams. Our people have very simple lives and simple wishes, and even these have been shattered by national thieves. Shame on those who steal, lie and cheat the “little ones.”

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Advent reminds us about our exit from this life. Do you have an “exit plan”? Not just from the country, but from this life itself when death will come! We must be busy preparing for that moment when we finally breathe our last and meet our Creator face to face with all our earthly life behind us.

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Advent reminds us about “payback time.” I shake my head in disbelief when I meet people past the noonday of their lives still so intense in their pursuit of worldly treasures and pleasures, and still going so much after quantity instead of quality life! Let us not miss the opportunity to turn back from our selfish ways, and give our very best to God and to His people while we still can.

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Think about this: “Depending on how a man lives, he may die old at 40 or young at 80.”

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Please consider my latest book, “Treasured Moments,” for your Christmas gift or giveaway. It is a collection of touching stories and cherished moments which inspire us to be grateful and hopeful as we journey on. Proceeds from the sale of this book will help support our 140 Filipino SVD missionaries working all over the world. For particulars, please call 7217457, or e-mail [email protected]

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A moment with the Lord:

Lord, as you will call me anytime, help me to be ready to meet you anytime. Amen.