Advent begins with a glimpse into the distant future when Jesus will come again, but what about now in the meantime? Jesus’ parable in Sunday’s gospel warns the doorkeepers to stay awake even if the estate owner returns at dusk, midnight, when the cock crows, or early dawn.
The four times to stay awake — dusk, midnight, cock crow, and dawn — outline steps in the faith journeys of Jesus’ followers during his passion, which begins in the next chapter. At dusk after the last supper Jesus takes Peter, James, and John with him to the garden of Gethsemane to pray. The three fall asleep as Jesus prays.
Soldiers come to arrest Jesus later that night; his disciples scatter in fear. Peter follows Jesus to the high priest’s house but denies that he even knows Jesus.
When Peter hears a cock crow, he wakes up a little. He feels regret for denying Jesus instead of standing by his friend.
At dawn, three women disciples take spices to Jesus’ tomb and find it empty. They wake up to faith in Jesus’ resurrection.
Dusk, midnight, when the cock crows, and dawn mark stages in the process of Jesus’ friends maturing in faith. This process moves from slumber to fear and denial, to regret and waking.
The world in Advent turns toward its darkest night in the northern hemisphere and then after Jesus’ birth toward the dawning of the year — a new time for waking to the mystery of Jesus’ continuing presence in our lives.
What does Jesus’ counsel to stay awake mean today? The people of Ariel’s planet seem to have fallen asleep to everything but the most trivial concerns. How are we to avoid their fate? How can we stay awake to God’s presence, to people in need, to each other, and to creation?
One way is to pay attention (stay awake!) to what moves you as you go through your day. Be aware of the Holy Spirit’s presence and movement. Are you feeling a gentle nudge through the words of a friend, parent, teacher, or coach; a beautiful or painful song or video; or hearing a small inner voice pointing you in a certain direction? Try spending ten minutes at the beginning or end of each day to recall these moments, open your heart to their possible deeper meaning, and give thanks for God’s presence in your life. Revisit the Examen of Consciousness in Spirit, November 8, 2020.
Another way to stay awake is to consider when you are asleep to God’s presence. How many hours of screen time do you log in each day? Include in the total time spent watching TV, playing video games, and social networking.
The splendors of creation are a gift continually flowing forth from the Creator. We are the only beings truly awake to see and appreciate, to love and care for this wondrous gift that is our planet.
When Colin Beavan (aka “No Impact Man”) and his family decided to try living for a year in New York City without doing any harm to the environment (the “No Impact Experiment”), it attracted worldwide media attention. The Beavans traded their old habits for more environmentally-friendly ones, and figured out that doing so actually awakened them to a happier, healthier, and more abundant life. What impact do your habits of comfort or consuming make on the earth? What helps keep you awake to the glory of creation?
Advent is the time to wake up to the significance of who we are since God has come into our world in Jesus. We are unique on this world in our self-consciousness and in our ability to act in and through the power of love Jesus’ life shows us.