As you advance in the spiritual life, you will get to a point when spiritual exercises could start becoming a routine and then you desire more and if that desire is not met, you experience spiritual dryness- a sensitive and tempting moment that could make one become lazy and tired that if care is not taken could result to disbelief and abandonment of the faith.
Are you spiritually asleep? Here are four practical ways to get up from that destructive slumber this season of Advent. If you want to know, continue reading slowly…
cf. Matthew 24:37-44
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘As it was in Noah’s day, so will it be when the Son of Man comes. For in those days before the Flood people were eating, drinking, taking wives, taking husbands, right up to the day Noah went into the ark, and they suspected nothing till the Flood came and swept all away…
So stay awake, because you do not know the day when your master is coming. You may be quite sure of this, that if the householder had known at what time of the night the burglar would come, he would have stayed awake and would not have allowed anyone to break through the wall of his house. Therefore, you too must stand ready because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.’
POINTS FOR REFLECTION
Spiritual Slumber is Dangerous
Child of God, Jesus commands us to be spiritually awoke not just to be alert at his second coming but to be alert at the wiles of the evil one whose grande plan is to deny us eternal life at his second coming. Hence elsewhere he tells a parable in Matthew 13:24-25 about how a man sowed good seeds in his field, but while men slept, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat. Spiritual slumber is dangerous and its consequences expensive hence the bible warns us: “Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread” (Proverbs 20:13).
Four ways to overcome Spiritual Slumber
St Paul gives us seven ways to stay awake spiritually, he says:
You know ‘the time’ has come: you must wake up now: our salvation is even nearer than it was when we were converted. The night is almost over, it will be daylight soon – let us give up all the things we prefer to do under cover of the dark; let us arm ourselves and appear in the light. Let us live decently as people do in the daytime: no drunken orgies, no promiscuity or licentiousness, and no wrangling or jealousy. Let your armour be the Lord Jesus Christ.( Rom 13:11-14)
1. Give up sinfulness:
One of the reasons many don’t feel the desire to pray or be active in their faith-encounter is sin. The back and forth movement between a life of sin and repentance could be frustrating and make one easily give up making efforts towards progress. Take a bold step to come out of a life of sin and remain in righteousness.
2. Arm yourself with righteousness:
Enduring in righteousness is another sure way of avoiding spiritual slumber. Do everything possible and necessary to care for your spiritual health as you do for the body by providing it with food, clothing, care, and information (Knowledge). Feed your soul with the Word of God and the Holy Eucharist. Get involved with prayer groups and Christian faith-chat platforms both in church and on-line, go for retreats and pilgrimages.
3. Live a decent life:
Decency is key to maintaining a healthy spiritual life. An unhealthy lifestyle is a threat to spiritual life. Hence St Paul advices we give up drunkenness and promiscuity- the lifestyles that throw caution and self-control to the wind and cultivate self-control which is one of the fruits of the Spirit and an evidence that the Holy Spirit lives in us.
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. (2 Tim 1:7)
4. Arm yourself with Jesus in prayer:
Prayer is key to living a successful spiritual life. Infact your spiritual health is measured through prayer. For this reason the bible tell us “to pray without ceasing” (1Thess 5:17). Elsewhere it is written: “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Rom 12:12).
TASK
Advent is a time we are called to stay awake and prepare for the two-fold coming of Jesus christ: at Christmas and at the parousia (the second coming). Are you experiencing Spiritual slumber? Take up these 4 practical steps to stay awoke and revive your spiritual life.
I pray for you
May the glory and power of the Lord stir your sleepy soul to wake up and embrace righteousness as you pray this Psalm:
My heart is ready, O God; my heart is ready, And I will sing! Yes, I will sing your praise! Awake my soul, awake lyre and harp; I will awake the dawn! Amen. (Psalm 57:7-8)
Thanks Fr for bringing here. Lord I need you now than ever.
Thank you for this words of motivation . Is not easy but i trust God to help with us grace this Advent .