Romans 13.11-14, Matthew 24.36-44

Are you awake

In her memoir, An American Childhood, Annie Dillard describes waking up this way: it is like breaking the surface of the ocean from underneath and seeing for the first time sunlight shimmering on the water, blue sky, birds flying and all the other wonders of life that remain unknown as long as one lives underneath the surface of the sea. This breaking of the surface to a world of wonder that includes suffering, too is what it is to wake up; to be conscious of the full mysteries of life. For her this is the moment of moving from childhood to adolescence to adulthood, each a breakthrough in consciousness.

To live this way – mindful of the beauty and the terrors of being alive – is to go through life awake. Dillard contends that it is possible to go through life unconscious or at least not fully conscious; a bit like living underneath the ocean surface with no knowledge of the wonders above. A better way to describe non-conscious living is sleep walking through life, never breaking the surface.

Are you awake?

Our Advent texts make it clear that this is no time to be asleep. “You know what time it is,” says Saint Paul, “this is the moment for you to wake up from your sleep.” The hour is late, the night is far gone, so wake up, be alert, the presence of the Holy One is near. Matthew has a more startling image of a thief coming suddenly in the night. It is common to dismiss both of these summons as pieces of apocalyptic poetry about the end of the world. That would be a mistake. Of all the commentary I heard last week about the tragic death of Sean Taylor at age 24 the one that seized my attention most was coach Joe Gibbs. With sad eyes he said, “I know again that life is precious, can go at any moment and we must savor fully every day we have.”

I think Coach Gibbs is talking about being awake every day, because the hour is late the night is far gone, and the Holy One is always near. He might have said the same following the deaths of the 15 teenagers over the past month.

Saint Paul understands and Matthew too that, strange as it is may seem, it is possible to live life asleep. With the aid of alcohol, television, shopping, parties and entertainment 24x7, it is easier than ever to live mindlessly rather than mindfully, to be asleep and not awake to the wonders, the beauties, the terrors and the glorious challenges that make life truly alive.

Both of them urge a life that befits people who are fully alive and alert. The times demand it with wars and rumors of wars, natural disasters and social upheaval – this is no time for the people of God to be nonchalantly sleep walking through life as though God were asleep as well. In fact, it seems to me that what Paul and Matthew want us to hear is that God is near, nearer than our next breath.

Are you awake?

II

If being awake is the first question, the second is are you dressed? This is the season of holiday gatherings so it is not a stretch for most of us to imagine clothes that fit the occasion. Everyone wants to be dressed in their finest.

Before you go to a party or event, we all ask what should I wear? No one wants to attend a gathering in jeans if a suit or a dress is called for.

It’s an analogy Paul uses to summon us to dress in a way fitting for those who are awake. Those old clothes just won’t do: petty jealousy may be a coat that fits comfortably but it is too dark, too ragged for the occasion – throw it away.

The compulsion to quarrel – engaging in fighting, bickering and arguing –is an ugly outfit. No one would want to be seen in it when the full light of Christ dawns upon us.

All these behaviors we know so well – jealousy, bickering, arguing – renounce them, strip them away as if your were stripping off old ragged clothes that you wouldn’t be caught dead in. It is the wardrobe of darkness.

Now is where it gets challenging. How shall we dress – live our lives – before God? Of course, we would want to wear our finest and not be caught dead wearing what is offensive or just plain ratty.

So then what if you and I lived as Paul and Matthew imagine – daily as though we were on the edge of daybreak, the hour late and the darkness nearly spent, the presence of God truly near day by day? What if you and I allowed our minds and hearts – our lives – to be shaped by this possibility? How would you live or as Paul asks, what clothes would you wear?

Would you wear the coat of kindness? Would you put on the suit of compassion and the vest of love?

This is Advent. It is the occasion to wake up, to cast off the old clothes.

The day is far gone, the hour is late and daybreak is near.

Are you awake? Are you dressed?