We wait for what we cannot see; the return of the Master seems to take so long. We wait with courage, not in doubt. We wait not because there is no other alternative but because we faithfully choose to persevere in hope while waiting for the Master to appear (see Mt 25:1ff).

We call people who serve in a restaurant "waiters." The waiter serves us. Thus, serving the Lord and His people is a big part of our waiting. We don't wait passively, but in active service.

We wait in love. Jacob waited and served seven years for the hand of his beloved Rachel, but they seemed like a few days to him because of his love for her (Gn 29:17-20). An ardent love changes the waiting from a drudgery into a delightful anticipation of the coming of our Savior Jesus Christ. As the song says: "If it takes forever, I will wait for you."

We wait in hope, joyful hope. Ours is a living hope (1 Pt 1:3), alive, vibrant, joyful. We want to wait with a living hope, and not to be "among the living dead" (1 Jn 3:14).

Our entire life is one of waiting for the Lord (Ps 27:14). Like the five wise virgins, we wait full of the oil of the Spirit (Mt 25:4). In summary, we wait for the Lord by waiting with service, courage, love, hope, and fullness. We wait by living an abundant life, a life to the full (Jn 10:10).

When we wait like this, in a sense, we already have what we are waiting for. Wait for the Lord by waiting on the Lord.

Rescript:  †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, December 1, 2016

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