Good morning, everyone! Let’s start with a confession—I’m one of those people who absolutely needs coffee in the morning. My brain doesn’t even fully function until that first cup. And wouldn’t you know it, today’s Advent calendar item is a coffee bean. When I saw it, I thought, “Now this is my kind of Advent reflection!”
 
But as I made coffee this morning I meditated on the little coffee bean in my hand, I realized it was more than just my morning fuel. Coffee wakes us up physically, but it also made me wonder: Do I need to wake up spiritually?
 
That’s a great Advent question because this season is all about staying alert and watchful. Just like coffee wakes up our bodies, Advent is meant to wake up our souls—to make us ready for Christ’s coming, both at Christmas and at the end of time.
 In today’s readings, the theme of wakefulness and renewal is everywhere. Isaiah promises that a day is coming when the blind will see, the deaf will hear, and joy will fill the hearts of the lowly. It’s a vision of transformation, of God waking up His people to a new reality.
 
In the Gospel, we see this transformation in action. Two blind men cry out to Jesus, “Son of David, have pity on us!” They can’t physically see, but their hearts are awake enough to recognize Jesus as the one who can heal them. And what does Jesus say? “Let it be done for you according to your faith.” Their faith opens their eyes.
 Now, let’s turn the question on ourselves: Are we spiritually awake? Or are we sleepwalking through life, so caught up in daily routines or distractions that we miss what God is doing? Advent calls us to shake off that spiritual grogginess.
 
Think about the blind men in the Gospel. They could have stayed silent, but they didn’t. They cried out for Jesus with persistence and faith. That’s the kind of wakefulness Advent calls us to—a faith that actively seeks Jesus, even in the darkness.
 So how do we “wake up” spiritually during Advent? Here are a few suggestions:
 

• Start your day with prayer. Just like that first sip of coffee wakes you up physically, a few moments of prayer in the morning can wake you up spiritually. Ask God to help you see Him at work in your day.
• Look for God in the ordinary. The blind men saw Jesus in their darkness—what about us? Can we recognize Him in the smile of a stranger, the beauty of a sunset, or the kindness of a friend?
• Stir your faith into action. Isaiah speaks of a day when the lowly will rejoice and the poor will find joy in the Lord. How can we be part of that? Maybe it’s volunteering, reaching out to someone in need, or simply offering a word of encouragement.

 Advent reminds us that Christ is near, but we need to stay awake to see Him. It’s easy to get spiritually drowsy, but just like that coffee bean can energize our bodies, Advent can energize our souls if we let it.
 
So today, as you sip your coffee or think about that little coffee bean, let it remind you to wake up spiritually. Cry out to Jesus like the blind men did, and trust that He will open your eyes to His presence. Because when we’re awake and alert, we’re ready to receive the joy and hope that only He can bring. Amen.