It feels to me like the obvious question from today’s Gospel reading is “What does Jesus mean by being awake and what does wisdom have to do with it?  I think it is clear that it is not literally “stay awake.”  Some might say simply that we need to mind our “p’s and q’s” and celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation regularly in order that our souls are ready for heaven when we die.  I wonder though, if there isn’t a deeper invitation.  Perhaps an invitation to awaken to ourselves, not just our sins and woundedness, but our gifts and calls.  Bring those into the light as well.  To be awake, in my mind and heart, is to live from that truest part of ourselves, from our hearts.  And, from that place, we will necessarily grow in wisdom and meet Wisdom, meet Christ.  So how do we do that?

For me, it begins by trying to be present to each moment, not looking to the past or the future.  All we have is the present moment.  Next, I try to be aware (awake?) to what I see in other people that really strikes me, maybe to the extreme.  This is important because what we notice in others, is generally present in ourselves somewhere.  Sometimes it is talked about as when we get “triggered” and respond by either flying off the handle or putting someone on a pedestal.  When I notice this happening, it is a clue for me to pause and ask, what is going on inside or me, how am I feeling?  What does this feeling remind me of?  When I can do this, I am freer to respond from a place of Love and Wisdom instead of fear or hurt.  I also learn a bit more about myself and God’s love for me at those moments.

A simple example.  My daughter and 18 month old granddaughter were with me this week.  My son-in-law was traveling and she needed support while working from home.  I was putting my granddaughter down for a nap. She and I were resting on the bed but she was not going to sleep.  I felt myself starting to get anxious.  I could hear myself saying “I wish she would hurry up and just go to sleep.”  I stopped in that moment and asked “what else do I have to do that is more important than this?”  The answer of course, is nothing, but the “world” was calling. Simply being present enough to ask myself the question allowed me to make the choice from Love to rest with my granddaughter and be patient.  This sounds so simple, yet I found it very profound.  I feel that in caring for her I was being Christ to her and she in her simple presence was Christ to me in that moment (and many others).  I am grateful for that chance to be with her and to learn that I can be patient and present.  I am smiling at myself as I type this reflection, that is days overdue, and my example of being awake is allowing for another to sleep.

How is Jesus inviting us to stay awake this day?  How is Wisdom inviting us to stay awake to ourselves and God in each moment; not for something or some time to come but to live a Christ filled, heaven on earth, life today.