Words from Father Yohanes: Faithful in Waiting, Active in Serving

A wish usually refers to a desire or an act of aiming for specific things. That desired thing can be controlled. This means that when we pursue what we desire, most of the time we will experience one of two outcomes: achievement or failure. These two results show how human beings can exercise control over what they wish and desire.

It is easy to explain the relationship between success and desire, and how human control bridges the gap between desire and achievement. But what about failure? How do we explain the role of human control in failure? Of course, human control plays an important role in failure - it appears through evaluation. So, failure may occur, but it is not the end. Human beings can evaluate why failure happened and seek improvement. This is an indication that desire and wish are under human control.

Hope, on the other hand, is open-ended and deeply tied to the mystery of being. Early in the morning when we wake up, we may plan good things to do. But we don’t know what will happen to us during the day - we may be safe, or we may face an accident. We may invest in medication, but sickness can still affect our bodies. This reality applies to every aspect of our life. We are finite beings. We live within a mystery to be experienced. And responding to that, hope is the way to handle the mystery of life - uncertainties, despair, suffering, and death. This means that hope is faith in something greater than oneself. Hope does not help us escape reality but gives us the strength to stay present even in the face of suffering and uncertainty.

The Gospel of St. Luke 12:32 - 48 speaks to this reality. Jesus said, “You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.” The phrase “do not expect” refers to the mystery of life. It shows that life is unpredictable and beyond human control. Yes, our lives are grounded in mystery. But at the same time, the sentence “the Son of Man will come” refers also to hope. It encourages us to be brave, because the Son of Man has power and can transcend the mystery. Hope is faith in something greater than oneself - the Son of Man, Jesus Christ. So, hope helps us stay present even in the face of suffering and uncertainty.

Though we live in an unpredictable world - a mystery of life, our hope helps us remain faithful in life and in the commitments we make. Hope inspires and stimulates us to be active in life. We dedicate our lives to waiting for the coming of the Son of Man. And because of that longing, we can remain present even in the mystery of life. Our actual presence is not just existing in the world but being active in service. We are called to be faithful in waiting and active in serving. Our best response to this call is to be faithful in both small and great responsibilities.

Dedicating our lives as an act of waiting for the coming of the Son of Man is not easy. It tests our patience and hope. Yet Jesus calls us to wait - not passively, but faithfully. Like the servants who keep their lamps burning, we are invited to live each day with hearts ready to welcome the Lord through our service. From this, we learn that true faith is not idle. It moves us into action. We are called not to wait with folded hands, but with hands active in serving. So, our guiding question becomes: Am I faithful in my daily duties? Or do I postpone them, thinking I still have plenty of time?

Father Yohanes Akoit is pastor of St. Julian and St. Anthony Catholic churches in Kentucky.