Sermon 03.02.2025: A Woke Church

Stay woke! Or we might miss the glory of God (at least according to Luke's gospel). The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke all record the story of Jesus's transfiguration on the mountaintop. But only Luke records that the disciples witnessed this amazing transformation because they had stayed awake. In a time when we are tired and overwhelmed with exhausting news, how can we stay awake to witness what God is doing in the world and in our lives?

Scripture

Luke 9:28-45

Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah” —not knowing what he said. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.

On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. Just then a man from the crowd shouted, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child. Suddenly a spirit seizes him, and all at once he shrieks. It convulses him until he foams at the mouth; it mauls him and will scarcely leave him. I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.” Jesus answered, “You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.” While he was coming, the demon dashed him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.

And all were astounded at the greatness of God. While everyone was amazed at all that he was doing, he said to his disciples, “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands.” But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was concealed from them, so that they could not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying.

Sermon

Last week, as she received her Screen Actors Guild, Life Achievement Award, Jane Fonda said this: “Make no mistake, empathy is not weak or woke. And by the way, woke just means you give a darn about other people.” (And no, she did not say “darn.”) 

Now, the term “woke” is not new. It has been around since at least the 1930s, and our black siblings have been using it to refer to social and political awareness for decades. It is, of course, a form of the word “awake,” meaning to be conscious, alert, and not asleep. 

And being awake is sometimes a sign of love. For example, when I was a teenager with a new driver’s license, my dad “stayed woke” until I came home. 

I sometimes had marching band competitions or church events that kept me out at night. And sometimes, after those events, I’d go with friends to the nearest taqueria or diner and lose track of time. I didn’t have a curfew, per se, but my parents usually went to bed at 10 o’clock. So if I was gonna be home later than that, I needed to let them know. 

I distinctly remember one night, forgetting to call home. I was having a grand old time with my friends, and finally made it back home. As soon as I walked through our front door, my heart dropped. 

There was my dad, sitting on the couch, awake. I braced for anger and frustration or yelling and punishment because I knew I had done something wrong. I was late. I had made him worry. And I had forgotten to call. 

But my very tired dad looked at me and simply said, “Oh, so you are okay. I was scared.” Then he turned around and went to his room to sleep. That was it. 

That response left a much deeper impression on my teenage self than any yelling or punishment probably would have. Because that response showed me a parent who worried about me and cared about me and wanted me to be safe. A parent who chose to stay awake, not to yell at me but because he loved me. 

Friends, being awake is sometimes a sign of love. 

I’m reminded of another time Jesus was with a few of his disciples. This is after today’s story of transfiguration when he’s in the Garden of Gethsemane praying. He asks his disciples to stake awake and pray with him. But they can’t. They don’t. 

And Jesus is disheartened by their inability to stay awake and says to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not come into the time of trial.” (Luke 22:46) And maybe it’s just me, but I sense a sadness, a frustration, a kind of heartbreak with Jesus’s question. Because sometimes, staying awake is a sign of love. 

Now, anyone who knows anything about me knows that one of my favorite things to do is the very opposite of staying awake. I love sleeping in. I love naps. I love being in bed. 

I know it’s not for everyone; some of you need and want to be productive and upright and doing things in the world. That’s fine. But I love sleep. And I love the Nap Bishop, Tricia Hersey who asserts that “rest is resistance” as she examines the liberating power of naps. 

I agree with her whole-heartedly and affirm that we need to rest. But just as there is a time to rest, there is also a time to stay woke. 

And church, now is a time to stay woke. 

Now: as we are slashing budgets to life-saving aid and help around the globe; now: as the most powerful men in the world are revising history right before our eyes; now: as there are attempts to erase the transgender community; now: as hate and misinformation are flooding our news waves and social media. 

Now is a time to stay woke. 

And not so that we’re exhausted and running ragged, not so that we’re overwhelmed by the news each morning, not so that we’re running on fumes. But so that, in staying awake, like the disciples who were with Jesus on that mountaintop, we might experience transfiguration. 

Today’s scripture reading says: “Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory.” (vs. 32) It is because they were able to stay awake that they witness Jesus in his truest form. 

And friends, even in the midst of all that is rage-inducing and mind-boggling today, God is at work, revealing God’s glory and love to us, claiming us as God’s beloved children. Staying awake is one way to witness God’s love. And we cannot afford to miss God’s love in these troubling days. 

Recently, we learned that someone gave Calvary an online rating of 1 out of 5 stars. In their comments, explaining why they gave such a low review, this person wrote, in all caps, “THIS CHURCH IS WOKE.”

Well, to that I say, yes. Thank you. This church is woke. We have woken up to witness injustice, hate, and cruelty, and we have also woken up to believe that even this can be transformed by God. So if by “woke” you mean paying attention, caring, loving, watching, witnessing, and being willing to speak out, then, yes, we are woke. 

And we will stay woke because being awake is sometimes a sign of love. 

Now, I don’t know if this is scientifically proven, but when I was in youth group, I was told at my very first church lock-in that the best way to stay up all night was to keep eating. If I snacked all through the night, I would be able to stay awake! And me, never needing an additional excuse to eat, I tried it. And lo and behold it worked! My first all-nighter, brought to you by Doritos and coke. 

And the fact of the matter is, food gives us energy. And sometimes just the simple action of munching on something can help us stay awake. So to be a woke church, we have to be a fed church. 

And this food, which we will partake in today, this bread and this cup, offered to us at the table of grace, gives us the ability to stay woke in a world that would rather have us asleep and not paying attention. 

This table gives us energy and sustenance to keep going. 

This table reminds us who is missing from the table and who Jesus would invite, but we have failed or forgotten to let in. 

This table reminds us that sometimes even those whom we consider enemies are invited to sit at this table. This table reminds us that sometimes those who are welcome at this table have instead chosen to sit at tables they should be helping over turn. 

This table feeds us and insists that everyone must be fed. 

This table is like a mountain top experience where we witness Jesus for who he truly is: our host, the bread of life, the light of the world. And just like in today’s transfiguration story, once we have feasted at this table, we must go from this place to the people. 

And what does Jesus do as soon as he leaves the mountain top? He heals. 

Transformation and healing are possible because of transfiguration. Healing and wholeness are possible when our true selves are revealed. 

That’s why gender affirming care is such a gift. That’s why those who are brave enough to come out and fully be themselves are so embraced and welcomed by God. 

We are fearfully and wonderfully made. And God knows us and loves us just as we are. And celebrates us when who we are can be revealed to the world. It is in those most honest moments of our lives when we are living most into who God has called us to be. 

This is essentially the good news of Jesus Christ. And we may be tempted to keep that joy and good news all to ourselves because it feels nice and warm and safe up on this mountaintop, but that is not what God asks of us. 

As the hands and feet of Jesus, having been fed at this mountaintop means we must go down into the world to heal, to help others embrace themselves and embrace one another, to embrace the vast and beautiful diversity which God created and intended. 

In a broken and fearful world, we will stay awake and witness the glory and love of God, so that we might share that glory and love with all. 

So be a woke church; be a woke people, and encourage all people to wake up to the love of God that embraces us all. And, remember, if we wanna stay awake, we gotta eat. But when Jesus brings the snacks, there is always enough for us all. 

Amen. 

Cover Image: The Transfiguration by Augustin Kolawole Olayinka