Sleep Tight

Sleeping with the angels

Luke 2: 25-32

 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.  This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.   It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.  He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law  in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying: “Lord, now let your servant go in peace; your word has been fulfilled: my own eyes have seen the salvation which you prepared  in the sight of every people, a light to reveal you to the nations and the glory of your people Israel.”

            Do you have a nightly routine before you go to sleep, or as you prepare for bed?  Some people religiously brush their teeth and floss, others wash their face, I suppose women must have to remove make-up or put cucumbers on their eye-lids and curlers in their hair. Can you tell I’m not married?  Remember the T.V. show “The Waltons”?  Every episode ended with the Walton family’s nightly routine: they each said “good night” one by one, “Good night, John Boy,” “Good night, maw,” “Good night, paw,” etc.  We do the same thing at the rectory each night.  If you drive by about 10 p.m. you’ll hear, “Good night, Fr. Andrew,” “Good night, Fr. Pius,” “Good night, Fr. Jason,” “Good night, Fr. John Boy.”  We’re a very close-knit fraternity.

            Actually, what priests DO say as their last words of the day are recorded in today’s gospel, the so-called “Canticle of Simeon.”  When Simeon sees the Baby Jesus, he recognizes him as the promised Messiah, and says – really he sings – “Lord, now let your servant go in peace, your word has been fulfilled; my own eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared in the sight of every people.”  In other words, once Simeon saw Jesus, he could sleep in peace – and ultimately die in peace – because bundled up in Jesus was every blessing for which humanity hungers.  Every night as Simeon fell asleep, he only needed to count one sheep, the Lamb of God, and all the blessings he brings.  And that is every priest’s nightly routine, and that helps him to sleep with the angels.

            My friends, do you have trouble falling asleep, or suffer from insomnia?  Sometimes, sleep aids are helpful, but I try to avoid them.  Instead, try counting the one Sheep, like Simeon did, and remember all the ways you saw God’s salvation during the day, that is, count all your blessings.  It’s funny how powerful prayer is as a sleep-aid.  When I lead the prayer at home with my family, as soon as I make the Sign of the Cross, my nephew makes this huge yawn!  That was just the Sign of the Cross, I’m afraid the Rosary would make the poor kid comatose.  So, after you brush your teeth, and wash your face, and put in your curlers, say a prayer like Simeon before you close your eyes, count the blessings and salvation you saw that day.  That will help you to sleep with the angels, too.

            Praised be Jesus Christ!