Advent, however, is about waking up. Here is the Advent collect--for last week, Advent I, but to be repeated every Sunday:
Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which thy son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility, that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty, to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and for ever, Amen.
One of the greatest songs that celebrates the need to wake up is Bach's (and Philipp Nicolai's) "Sleepers, Wake!" Hereis my post on it from last year. It wears pretty well.
The Apostle Paul tells us that it is time for us to wake out of sleep, because our salvation is nearer than when we first believed (Romans 13:11-12).
As my teachers always used to ask us when I was little, are you ready if Jesus were to come today?
It's all too easy to coast along. Sleep takes a lot of forms. Maybe Bach can help us to wake up.
Here is a great organ version of the hymn tune:
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