December 2, 2025
Hello Everyone –
And do this because you know the time; it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep. For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed; the night is advanced, the day is at hand. Let us then throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. (Romans 13:11-12)
Happy Advent Season!
There is much more at stake than just being awake, isn’t there? We can be awake and yet be only half alive, that is, if we do not have awareness — or understanding — or discernment. Sometimes it requires something shocking or at least a jolt of some kind to truly wake us up.
Consider this: each day summons us to wake from sleep. Sometimes we cannot wait for the morning to come. We wake up in joyful anticipation. We feel good to be alive. We are thankful to God for the gift of a new day. It is a chance to carry on some task we have already started — or to begin something we have been postponing — or to repair some damage or something neglected in our lives.
Other times, we are apathetic about waking up. We greet the new day without enthusiasm. Life may be monotonous or has become empty for us. Perhaps we find ourselves unemployed or retired, abandoned or rejected — this can lead to having nothing to look forward to. A lack of purpose or direction may loom large.
And many of us know or have known days — although hopefully not too many — when we dread the approach of morning. We wake up fearful — we get up reluctantly. Maybe life is dark and burdensome for us. Perhaps we are aged or facing a severe illness. Maybe we are alone or having to say a final good bye.
How we greet each morning is important. If we greet the day with joy and thankfulness — we will bring energy and enthusiasm to its tasks. But if we greet it with apathy or dread — we will face its tasks in a half-hearted manner — which means we are going into the day already debilitated and defeated.
I am guessing that none of what I am telling you is new or that it even comes as a surprise. No one life is perfect or free of difficulties. But what makes the difference is how we respond to our particular situation — just like how we decide to greet a new day.
Advent issues a spiritual wake-up call to each of us. The early days in particular of this new liturgical year possess an awakening power about them. Recall the words of St. Paul cited above.
Unless we are spiritually awake — we are only half living. In this respect, some people — perhaps more than some — are little better than sleepwalkers. They have eyes but do not see — and ears but do not hear. Their minds are narrow and closed. Their hearts have become hardened. To be awake spiritually means to be open and receptive — vigilant and active — conscious of what is really going on around you and me — and within us!
This season of grace does not exist solely to get us ready for Christmas — or to focus us on the coming of Christ at the end of time. In truth, Advent is about preparing ourselves for the coming of Christ in every way Christ may decide to come to us — now.
Christ came not only to us in Bethlehem many centuries ago. We believe that as a matter of faith. But he also comes to us today and will continue to do so until that final coming when all will be made new in him. And as in most things — we have options — to be awake to spiritual realities — or to be a sleepwalker.
We are urged to stay awake — to be on our guard — to keep watch! The clock is ticking — now is the time to wake from sleep.
As I do for you, please pray for me,
Most Reverend Jeffrey S. Grob
Archbishop of Milwaukee
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