Be Woke

 

“And be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants!” Luke 12:36-38 

 

I am often disappointed when phrases are created by people of color that are then twisted by those outside of the community. This is true of the word, “woke.” When members of the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) coined this term they meant awareness, being watchful, and being in tune with what’s happening. It has been twisted to mean people who are needlessly critical of others and seek to silence opposing ideas and perspectives. The Bible offers many scriptures in which we as followers and children of God are warned to be awake, to be “woke.” We must have eyes that are open to the realities of the world and to the hope that is in God. We must have our eyes open to the sin that exists in the world and to the redemptive process that is a part of our walk with Jesus. To put our head in the sand, to close our eyes to ways sin operates in our world is a denial that is costly. The cost is that when we don’t respond when we need to others suffer. The cost is also to us. When we deny sin and the power of God to redeem, the gifts God has placed in us “to will and to work” Phil. 2:13 weaken. The light we are to be is dimmed. The voice we are to be calling for justice is silent.

Friends, let’s follow the encouragement in Jesus’ parable. Let’s be awake so that in every way that Jesus appears, we are there to open the door welcoming him in. Amen!