Stay Awake: A Powerful, So-True Homily | 1st Sunday of Advent by Fr. Roger Morgan

“Stay Awake.” With this command from Jesus in Matthew 24:37–44, the Church begins a new liturgical year. In this First Sunday of Advent homily, Fr. Roger Morgan reflects on the urgency of spiritual vigilance as we await the Second Coming of Christ. Like St. Paul’s exhortation in Romans 13:11–14 — “Now is the hour to awake from sleep” — this message calls each of us to renewed conversion, prayer, and perseverance. Drawing from the wisdom of the Church Fathers, Fr. Morgan reminds us that St. Augustine describes the human heart as prone to spiritual sleep, lulled by comfort and distraction, and needing the divine alarm of Advent. St. Gregory the Great teaches that the uncertainty of the Lord’s return is meant to sharpen our virtue, not relax it. St. John Chrysostom warns that discipleship often feels unrewarding because true spiritual growth is slow, hidden, and costly — requiring the long obedience of faith. Origen notes that Christ comes to us even now in His Word and Sacraments to prepare us for His coming in glory. Fr. Morgan ties these ancient insights to the real struggles of modern believers: fatigue in prayer, discouragement in virtue, distractions of the world, and the temptation to drift into spiritual complacency. Advent shakes us awake, reminding us that Christ will come again, that judgment is real, and that the faithful should live with hopeful readiness, not fear. As we begin this season, we’re invited to throw off the works of darkness, put on the armor of light, renew our commitment to holiness, and stay awake for the Lord who comes now — and will come again in glory. Fr. Roger Morgan serves as pastor of St. Andrew Catholic Church in Myrtle Beach, a beautifully renovated parish overlooking the ocean, known for its reverent liturgies, sacred music, and deep commitment to the Church’s tradition. #Advent #FirstSundayOfAdvent #AdventHomily #CatholicHomily #FrMorgan #CatholicPreaching #CatholicChurch #CatholicFaith #StayAwake #Parousia #SecondComing #JesusChrist #GospelReflection #CatholicLife #CatholicYouTube #SacredScripture #ChurchFathers #CatholicTradition #SacredLiturgy #sacredmusic ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Opening: A New Year of Grace 00:05 – Advent Begins: Call to Vigilance 00:22 – What Is the Parousia? 00:47 – The Second Coming and Final Judgment 01:12 – Sheep, Goats, Wheat, and Chaff 01:53 – Why We Hear This Every Advent 02:35 – The Difficulty of Staying Vigilant 03:02 – Modern Desire for Quick Results 03:58 – Spiritual Fatigue and Discouragement 04:28 – The Cost of Following Christ 05:01 – Why Long-Term Spiritual Growth Is Hard 05:38 – How Worldly Busyness Leads to Complacency 06:12 – Putting Down Our Crosses 06:46 – Rediscovering the Spirit of Expectation 07:16 – Christ Comes to Us Now in Word and Sacrament 07:57 – The Power of Confession and Amendment of Life 08:22 – What It Means to “Stay Awake” 08:47 – *The Peephole Moment: Not Meeting Christ as a Stranger* 09:08 – Living Ready for His Return 09:27 – Judgment as the Fulfillment of Our Hope 09:58 – Throwing Off Darkness, Putting On Light 10:14 – Live as Children of God This Advent 10:36 – Awaiting in Joyful Hope the Coming of Christ