Sleep Like a Baby

Cleaning our conscience and sleeping more soundly

Matthew 8:23-27 

As Jesus got into a boat, his disciples followed him. Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by waves; but he was asleep. They came and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” He said to them, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?” Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was great calm. The men were amazed and said, “What sort of man is this, whom even the winds and the sea obey?”

         One of the most elusive elixirs of life is getting sufficient sleep. If I asked you how many of you have trouble sleeping at night, all of us would raise our hands, except Sr. Mary Sarto. The Center for Disease Control recently reported that “an estimated 50-70 million U.S. adults have sleep or wakefulness disorder” (“Insufficient Sleep Is a Public Health Problem”). And sometimes we even treat sleep as if it were an enemy. In college we used to pull “all-nighters” where we stayed up all night to study and cram for an exam. Our slogan was: “There will be sleeping enough in the grave!” Little did we know the grave comes a lot faster when you don’t sleep. Of course, New York City boasts the epithet of “the City that never sleeps” thanks to Frank Sinatra.   

         Msgr. Hebert had the habit of never drinking regular coffee after 12 o’clock noon. When we were at a restaurant for lunch he always ordered decaffeinated coffee. When the waiter brought the coffee, Msgr. Hebert asked, “Now, you’re sure this is decaf? Because if it is not decaf, I will call you at 2 a.m. and wake you up because I can’t sleep!” I remarked, “Monsignor, the trouble is not the caffeine, it’s the conscience.” By the way, that’s why we say someone “sleeps like a baby” – their conscience is clear like a baby’s. Sleep: you can’t live with it, you can’t live without it.   

         In the gospel today we see Jesus sleeping like a baby. Our Lord and his apostles are on a boat when a storm erupts on the sea. Quite miraculously, Jesus calms the storm and everyone is amazed. But what amazes me more than the calming of the storm is the calm in Jesus’ conscience that allowed him to sleep in the middle of the storm. On the other hand, the apostles were wide-awake. And I would suggest to you that their “trouble was not the caffeine but the conscience.” Jesus says, “Oh, ye of little faith.” In other words, don’t worry about storms at sea or caffeine in your tea, but rather have child-like faith and trust in God. Then, you, too, will be able to sleep like a baby.   

         My friends, may I make three suggestions that will help you calm your conscience and sleep more soundly? First, before you lie down, do “an examination of conscience.” That is, do a quick review of the day and ask forgiveness for your faults and foolishness. Calm your conscience. Second, thank God for your blessings. I always try to recall one surprise blessing that I didn’t expect to receive that day. And third, pray the rosary as you fall asleep. Don’t count sheep, count Hail Mary’s!  You’ll fall asleep feeling like you’re wrapped in the mantle of our Mother Mary. Then, you, too, will be able sleep like Sr. Mary Sarto.

         Praised be Jesus Christ!