Spiritual Watchfulness – Part 1

Main Idea

Pope Shenouda III speaks about spiritual watchfulness, explaining that a person who lives far from God or gives himself over to sin is like someone who is asleep or spiritually insensitive. The call of Christ and the Holy Scriptures is for the person to awaken from his spiritual sleep, rise from among the dead, so that Christ may shine upon him.

Spiritual Message

The teaching explains that a person may be very active in the affairs of life while, at the same time, being unaware of his spiritual life because his heart and mind are constantly occupied. One of the main causes of this spiritual sleep is the abundance of occupations and distractions that consume time, leaving a person no opportunity to sit with himself or with God. Emotions and various attachments can also take possession of the heart and compete with the love of God. Likewise, the environment and friends can influence a person and weaken his desire to walk with God.

Educational Lesson

Pope Shenouda emphasizes the necessity of organizing time and not allowing occupations to consume the whole of a person’s life. Instead, a clear and dedicated time should be set aside for prayer, the Holy Bible, meditation, and sitting with God. A person needs to examine his life and ask himself where he is going, rather than continuing to move without awareness like a ball rolling without knowing where it is heading.

Practical Application

The teaching calls us to reduce unnecessary occupations and limit the time wasted in entertainment, the phone, and various other distractions, while giving part of our time to God. A person can begin by waking up earlier, going to sleep at an appropriate time, and setting aside a quiet period for prayer and meditation. He should also pay attention to the influence of his environment, friends, and emotions on his spiritual life, and choose what helps him draw closer to God. The goal is for a person to awaken to himself, come out of the cycle of constant busyness, and make God an essential part of his life and time.

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