Waiting

The story is told about three prisoners on death row who were asked for their last wish. The first one wished for pizza. It was given, then he was executed. The second one wished for steak. It was given, then he was executed. The third one wished for cherries. When the guard told him that cherries were not yet in season, he said: “That’s all right. I can wait.”

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In today’s Gospel (Lk. 10, 38-42), Jesus reminds us about the value of waiting, and the ways of waiting. Martha was one who waited on the Lord, while Mary was one who waited and listened at the Lord’s feet. Martha was busy and anxious serving the Lord, while Mary was still and calm listening to the Lord. In the end, Jesus tells us that Mary has chosen the “better part.” There is a “Martha” and a “Mary” in each one of us. In prayer, may we be given the wisdom to know who we really are, and what we should be as we follow and serve the Lord.

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Martha was focused on her work for the Lord, while Mary was focused on the Lord of the work. Good works are good, but the reason for our good works is not so much achievement as a personal relationship. We are not hired laborers. We are disciples with a Master.

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Are you a manager, one who manages, controls, pushes, or even manipulates to get things done? A manager is driven by passion for excellence and results. That is good, but that can also be bad for the manager and for the people around him/her. It is good to be professional, but that should not lead one to be impersonal.

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Managers would do well to meditate on the lowly manger. It is a container that is just there, open and accessible for anything and for anyone. It was even used as a crib for the newborn King in Bethlehem, remember?  There is value, tremendous value, in waiting, in allowing things to be, and in patiently trusting. More than learning how to manage things and people, maybe we should learn to believe, trust, surrender, and obey.

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A man was asked: “What did you gain by regularly praying to God?” The man replied: “I did not gain anything, really, but I lost my anger, ego, greed, insecurities, fears and worries because I prayed.” More than “managing” the Lord, prayer is being with, and listening and waiting for, the Lord.

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Next time you go to a restaurant, observe the waiters who serve you. Noticeably, there are waiters who serve for a fee, or a tip, and there are waiters who serve for free. We who serve or claim to serve the Lord, are we doing it for a fee or for free?

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How do you treat people who wait for you and who wait on you? Please remember that the people who serve us are people, and should be treated as such, with respect, understanding, and yes, with love. Some people are so prayerful to God but so disrespectful of other people.

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It can happen that we spend our whole lives waiting for something and forget or neglect the ones around us. Let us not become so absorbed in waiting for things to the neglect of persons waiting for our love, care, and attention.

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I remember the feeling of a little boy waiting for Mama to come home from the barrio school every afternoon. As soon as she alighted from the old, dusty Pantranco bus, nothing else mattered anymore. The most important thing was that she had arrived. Gone were the insecurities and fears. What mattered was that she was home. Are there people who wait for your presence?

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Years ago when my dog Bruno was young, I trained him to do things like fetch the ball, roll over, or shake hands. I even thought of teaching him to carry a basket and take up a collection at Mass! He wasn’t good at all of these, but one thing he is good at is waiting for me. He faithfully waits for me to come home, he waits in front of my room for me to wake up, and he walks with me when I exercise. That makes him so dear to my heart. Maybe he does not do much, but he is always there for me, present and waiting.

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A prayer for those who wait for God’s healing: “Lord, You are the good physician. There is no disease You cannot heal, no sin You cannot help. You are the balm of Gilead, the great physician who has never yet failed to heal the physical and spiritual sickness of every soul that has to come to you in faith and prayer.” Amen.

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Speaking of physicians, I was privileged to be invited by members of Class 1954 UST College of Medicine. One cannot begin to imagine the many people whom they have waited for, and who waited for them all these years! I did not give a long speech after our lunch. For what can we say, really, to octogenarians who have meaningfully braved the noonday sun and are now at the sunset years of their lives? And besides, I told them in jest, I had to finish my talk because I knew that their strict parents were anxiously waiting for them to be home before sunset!

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Bantay Matanda invites you to a lay forum on “Depression in the Elderly” on July 27, 9 a.m.-12 noon, at Christ the King Seminary, Janssen Hall. The speaker is Dr. Patricio Reyes. For inquiries, please call 373-2262/998-2548/09174167849.

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A moment with the Lord:

Lord, teach me the value of prayerful, hopeful, and joyful waiting. Amen.