2nd Sunday of Advent (A)
Sacred Heart Church, Norwood
4th December, 2022
“Woke Culture and Advent”
My friends,
One of the terms we come across more recently is “woke culture”. It has emerged from the U.S. and it refers to people being awake/alert to injustice in society especially racial injustice. In just a few years it has been broadened out to many other areas of contention in society. It seems to be a new version of “political correctness” (aka P.C) whereby we must really watch our p’s and q’s in case we cause offence to anybody.
Basic respect and courtesy requires that we be conscious of disadvantage and sensitivity to the feelings of situations of others. It would be utterly ridiculous though if it reduces us to silence or whispers in relation to each other. In that sense political correctness can become a kind of tyranny or oppression if it seeks to silence one another from speaking truthfully.
What you may ask has these thoughts to do with Advent – quite a lot! The vision of Isaiah (1st Reading) is sharp and crystal clear. On him (who is to come) the Spirit of the Lord rests
A spirit of wisdom and insight
A spirit of counsel and power
A spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord
This vision from the 8th century is not just for the Jewish people but for all humanity.
It speaks of integrity, equity and faithfulness. It speaks of peace being forged between opposing forces. We speak of equality, inclusiveness and tolerance today.
It falls to John the Baptist to be the immediate herald of Jesus’ birth. He does so with a call to “repent and prepare a path for the Lord”. For some repentance is a “Damascus like” moment which a dazzling light shines on their sinful ways and they seek to turn sharply.
For most of us repentance is an ongoing challenge – habit and forgetfulness drags us onto unwholesome paths by way of thought and action. We can become so complacent that we delude ourselves of our true inner nature.
“Woke culture” can be valuable if it cultivates awareness for difference of gifts, insights and capability. It on the other hand can become so self-righteous and self-indulgent that it leads to factions and division.
My friends, in times of instability and uncertainty like ours, people become anxious and fearful. Sinister forces are prone to exploit these fears for their own advantage. Usually, polarisation is the result – a process whereby people are led into a zone of self-protection and distrust of one another. This can happen to good people.
Repent and prepare a path for the Lord is the Advent invitation – it’s the antidote to spiritual drift. Repentance calls for honesty and humility ‘round the sin and failure in ourselves. There is a great inner freedom in doing so. “Woke culture” is helpful once it isn’t weaponised for political purposes.
