From the Pulpit: Stay awake
By:
Father Andrew Young, Risen Savior
Our local Brandon Valley schools have finished one full week of school as of today! Bravo! Seven days down, how many more to go? Who’s counting? Well, being a former teacher, I know I used to have a countdown to summer. The start of school years can be difficult for teachers, students and we can’t forget parents, especially when saying goodbye to those young adults heading off to college. I had the privilege of accompanying my own nephew to Dordt to begin his freshman year. Unfortunately, his mother and father were both sick, so it was up to me to get those all-important move-in pictures, buying his last college book and forcing the couch through the doorway that it never should have fit through. Of course, I also had to fulfill the requirements his mother sent me off with: checkout the dining facility, make my nephew show me the laundry room (I guess so it is used), and, if time, make his bed. Tasks completed! For everyone, the beginning of the school year is definitely a transition while having to settle into new schedules and routines, while also trying to break those habits we had created over summer. Creating these new routines means we have to set new priorities, which results in having to forgo those late-night TV shows, evening pool parties or X-Box playing to the wee hours of the morning. New school years require us to get our schedules back in order so each day we can be productive in what we teach and are able to learn throughout our school day. Sleep ensures that we “Stay Awake” and not become drowsy and miss out on what the school day will bring for us. Not just school though, but also in the workforce – being alert, staying awake helps us accomplish our goals for the day wherever we are being called to serve. Where else in life are we called to “Stay Awake”?
Our Lord, in speaking to his followers, asks them to “Stay Awake” because they do not know the hour in which He will come. Often, we tend to think that this is His coming at the moment of our death or at the end of times. It certainly could be, but our Lord wants us to “Stay Awake” and alert to what He is doing in our lives every day. He wants us to recognize Him and see the many blessings that He wants to give us or helps to get through challenging times.
Last week the Brandon Area Prayer Breakfast welcomed Trenton Bass to come and speak about his experiences after suffering a severe injury while playing football in high school. Throughout that talk, Trenton told the massive crowd how he knew and felt the presence of the Lord in his life. Trenton was “awake” and recognized God’s closeness, which gave him peace and hope for a bright, although different, future. How would life have been different for Trenton if he had fallen asleep in his faith and unable to recognize God’s assistance through this traumatic moment?
“Stay Awake” while at school and work to achieve your dreams and goals! “Stay Awake” in your faith journey to receive all that the Lord has planned for you.
