Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy. (Luke 21:34)
What’s your go-to remedy for drowsiness? Perhaps you set aside obligations and take a power nap so that you have more energy to devote to the task when you wake up. Maybe you drink extra coffee and keep plugging away or take a jog around the block. Perhaps you take a look at what made you drowsy in the first place. You may end up adjusting your schedule so that you can sleep longer at night, seeing if you might be able to delegate some of the more monotonous aspects of your work.
These are all viable, logical solutions, and they may be effective in dealing with everyday drowsiness. But spiritual drowsiness calls for something more than human logic. To help illustrate this point, Scripture uses images like water to describe God’s power to energize and nourish us: “The angel showed me the river of life-giving water, sparkling like crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb” (Revelation 22:1).
Many factors can contribute to spiritual drowsiness, and Jesus suggests two that are polar opposites to each other. One is “carousing,” a self-indulgence that deafens us to God’s call to put off sin and put on the new life of Christ. The other is “the anxieties of daily life” (Luke 21:34). This has to do with our tendency to feel our responsibilities too intensely and thus get weighed down by the worries that come with them. As noble as this may sound, it can make us forget that all we have and all we are come to us as precious gifts from our heavenly Father.
So what’s the answer? Drink deeply of the river of life. If you are going to expend extra energy to fight off drowsiness, do it in prayer. Push through any sense of monotony that has crept into your prayer life. Change your routine. Instead of sitting and meditating, stand up and sing. Recite the creed over and over until you feel the words coming alive. Devote one prayer time a week to doing nothing but listing God’s attributes and praising him for them, one by one. Do anything that will propel you into the presence of the Lord, and let him refresh you and renew your energy.
“Holy Spirit, when I am weary, refresh me in your life-giving stream.” Amen!
Daniel 7:15 “As for me, Dani’el, my spirit deep within me was troubled; the visions in my head frightened me. 16 I approached one of those standing by and asked him what all this really meant. He said that he would make me understand how to interpret these things. 17 ‘These four huge animals are four kingdoms that will arise on earth. 18 But the holy ones of the Most High will receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, yes, forever and ever.’
19 “Then I wanted to know what the fourth beast meant, the one that was different from all the others, so very terrifying, with iron teeth and bronze nails, which devoured, crushed and stamped its feet on what was left; 20 and what the ten horns on its head meant; and the other horn which sprang up and before which three fell, the horn that had eyes and a mouth speaking arrogantly and seemed greater than the others. 21 I watched, and that horn made war with the holy ones and was winning, 22 until the Ancient One came, judgment was given in favor of the holy ones of the Most High, and the time came for the holy ones to take over the kingdom. 23 This is what he said: ‘The fourth animal will be a fourth kingdom on earth. It will be different from the other kingdoms; it will devour the whole earth, trample it down and crush it. 24 As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and yet another will arise after them. Now he will be different from the earlier ones, and he will put down three kings. 25 He will speak words against the Most High and try to exhaust the holy ones of the Most High. He will attempt to alter the seasons and the law; and [the holy ones] will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time. 26 But when the court goes into session, he will be stripped of his rulership, which will be consumed and completely destroyed. 27 Then the kingdom, the rulership and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the holy people of the Most High. Their kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will serve and obey them.’”
(Psalm) Daniel 3:82 All you mortals, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.
83 O Israel, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.
84 Priests of the Lord, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.
85 Servants of the Lord, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.
86 Spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.
87 Holy and humble of heart, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.
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