Wake Up!

On Remembrance Sunday, after the Two Minutes' Silence, the lone trumpet sounds the Reveille, which is the normal 'Wake Up!' call for the sleeping soldiers. In the context of Remembrance Sunday, the symbolism is of resurrection and new life in Christ.
With Advent approaching, the 40 days of spiritual preparation for Christmas, we are reminded of the same call. St. Paul, writing to his friends in Rome, makes a startling call. 'Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armour of light.' (Romans 13.11-12)
Most of us do not think of ourselves as asleep while we are living our normal lives. But Paul sees that unless we are deliberately setting out each day to live for Jesus, taking steps to cast off the works of darkness and put on the armour of light, then we are sleep walking through life. The traditional prayer for last Sunday has the same thought. Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may of thee be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Today, we can choose to wake up, or we can drift along asleep. Which is it to be?
Best wishes,
Richard