32 “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. 35 Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— 36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”
Stay awake! Such a simple phrase. Mary Poppins uses this simple phrase to actually put children to sleep. Jesus on the other hand uses this phrase to help keep people alert and active. If you do not know when the Master is going to return, then you need to stand always ready.
Stay awake? Does this mean we should never sleep? Does this mean we should stand boldly ready to make our confession? I fear the image of Christians dying for lack of sleep. But Christians need to be ready to speak their confession before other people. Since the phrase is joined with "be on guard," the master may return and find us confessing something other than the truth.
Stay Awake! God does not desire for people to fall asleep either in physical death or spiritual death. God desires his people to remain in their baptismal grace. He desires us to remain spiritually active. Listen to the Truth he has revealed to his people. Jesus would therefore urge us to remain alive and active as the Word of God.
Stay Awake! Even though Christ has died, Jesus is still Awake. He has died and rose again. This is the faith, which gives us life. So, Stay Awake!
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