Wake up the World!

Wake Up the World!

You may not know it but today begins the “Year of Consecrated Life” called for by Pope Francis. This is a year where religious priests, sisters and brothers are highlighted. We have a mandate from the Pope to: Wake Up the World!

This call blends well with the first Sunday of Advent where we hear Jesus tell us to “Be on Guard!” The word in the Greek also can mean: Be awake!

What does it take to wake you up in the morning? An alarm clock? A cold shower? Smelling salts? Coffee? Once when checking into a hotel the receptionist asked me, “Would you like a wake up phone call?”

Talk about a wake up call: Alfred Nobel lived in the 1800’s and invented dynamite. His brother Ludvig died and the newspaper mistakenly published the wrong obituary: About Alfred! It said, “The merchant of death has died. The man who invented dynamite and found a way to kill others fast than anyone before him is now dead.” When he read this he was so stunned he changed his life and at his death he donated almost all of his wealth to a cause that would reward people who work for peace and human achievement. He is the name behind the Nobel Peace Prize.

Bill Wilson got his own wake up call. It happened in the hospital where he lay doubting, hopeless and depressed. He had hit rock bottom because of his heavy drinking and some thought he would die soon. He called out to God and suddenly he was touched by God’s light. In he own words, “I was caught up in an ecstasy and I felt the presence of God!” The name Bill Wilson may sound familiar because he then went on to found Alcoholic’s Anonymous. Its purpose is for those with addictions to come to recovery. But its main purpose is for men and women everywhere of every background to have an “awakening” with God. Millions who are in the 12 Step program have awakened to God.

Katy Perry is a young Pop singer who is extremely popular with our youth. If you haven’t already heard about her, you will. She is singing at the Superbowl halftime show in Phoenix on Feb. 1st. Two years ago she debuted a smash #1 hit that still airs on the radio today. The song is called, “I’m Wide Awake.” She sings, “I’m wide awake. Yeah, I am born again, Out of the Lion’s den, Now I don’t have to pretend.”

Advent offers us the hope of a new awakening with God. God, our Father and the potter is reshaping us for more. We can expect new and great things. We can be confident of a new awakening as we celebrate Advent and this new year.

The great evangelical preaching of the 1800’s and early 1900’s was called the “Great awakening.” Advent is about you and I having a new spiritual awakening with God. You don’t have to stay stuck. A deepening personal relationship with God is possible. Expect. Believe. Have hope.

My role as a priest and religious is to “Wake Up the world.” This is why I preach, write and broadcast on TV and radio. In order for you to wake up and be wide awake towards God you don’t need: caffeine, a cold shower, smelling salts or an alarm clock. We need to listen to the Word of God with faith and with hope.