Sometimes it seems the most challenging time of the day is the morning, when
we must get out of bed although we would rather get more sleep. As
important as sleep is, eventually we must get up and live our lives,
doing what we are here to do.
The
first Christians saw sleep as a metaphor for death. As the Apostle
Paul writes to the church in Thessalonika, “But we do not want you
to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have fallen
asleep, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For
since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through
Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep”
(4:13-14).
In
tonight’s scripture reading, Jesus raises a girl from sleep which,
to most people, seemed like death. I ask us to think about how we are
like the young girl.
How
have we as individuals, communities, societies, the church, fallen
into a sleep which looks like death?
What
parts of us need reviving, need fresh life?
How
might we need to wake up to do the work we are called to do?
May
we, like the young girl, hear Jesus’ call to us: “Child, get up!”
And
may we rise to the glory of God.
Chant: "Wake up, O sleeper"
