Staying Awake: Advent Readiness

Wake-Up Charades

This game is a fun and active way to get students thinking about being awake and aware. It also gets them laughing and working together. Start by preparing slips of paper with simple actions written on them—things people might do when they first wake up. Examples: brushing teeth, hitting the snooze button, eating breakfast, yawning, stretching, putting on socks, making the bed, packing a backpack.

Divide the group into two teams. One person from each team comes up and acts out the action on the slip (like regular charades), while their team guesses. Set a time limit of 30 seconds to guess each one. Keep score if you’d like, or just play for fun.

It’s a fun way to think about the process of waking up—moving from sleep to action. That ties in with what we’re talking about today: being spiritually awake and active in our faith.

Follow-up questions for the group:

• What’s the first thing you usually do when you wake up?
• How does your morning routine affect the rest of your day?
• What do you think it means to “wake up” spiritually?

That game was all about what people do when they wake up. We laughed about silly routines, but it reminded us of something important—waking up leads to action. You don’t just open your eyes and stay in bed all day. You get moving.

Jesus talks about waking up too—not just from sleep, but in our hearts. He wants us to notice Him, to pay attention to the world around us, and to live with purpose. That’s what it means to be spiritually awake.

Now let’s listen to the Gospel and see what Jesus says about staying awake. As we read, think about what it means to wake up—not just in the morning, but in your faith.

Read Matthew 24:37-44 (Stay Awake and Be Ready), the Gospel for the 1st Sunday of Advent Year A

Jesus said to his disciples: “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

In those days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day that Noah entered the ark.

They did not know until the flood came and carried them all away.

So will it be also at the coming of the Son of Man.

Two men will be out in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken, and one will be left.

Therefore, stay awake!

For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.

Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour of night when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not let his house be broken into.

So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”

Let’s take a moment to think about what it means for us today. Jesus isn’t just giving a warning. He’s giving an invitation. He wants us to live with open eyes and open hearts. He wants us to be ready—not scared, but aware and alert. This message might sound big or far away, but it connects to your daily life in real ways. Let’s talk about what it means to stay spiritually awake in the world you live in right now.

“Spiritually awake” might sound like a strange phrase at first. We usually think about being awake or asleep in a physical way. But Jesus talks about a different kind of sleep. It’s when we stop paying attention to what really matters. It’s when we live our lives without thinking about God, others, or even our own hearts. It’s easy to fall into that kind of sleep, especially when life is busy or stressful.

Think about your daily routine. You go to school, do homework, maybe play sports or music, hang out with friends, spend time online, watch videos, scroll through your phone. None of these things are bad. In fact, they’re often good. But when we fill every moment with noise and activity, we can start to forget about deeper things. We stop making time for prayer. We stop noticing when someone needs help. We stop asking big questions like, “Why am I here?” or “What does God want for my life?” That’s when we start to fall asleep inside.

To be spiritually awake means we live with our eyes open to God. It means we try to see the world the way He sees it. It means we remember that every day is a gift, and we don’t just go through the motions. When we’re awake, we notice when someone is left out and we choose to include them. We notice when someone is hurting and we offer a kind word. We look for moments to be honest, to be generous, to be faithful. We make time to talk to God, even if it’s just a short prayer during the day.

Sometimes we think being close to God means doing big, dramatic things. But most of the time, it’s about small choices. It’s about doing what is right when no one is watching. It’s about staying kind when others are rude. It’s about trusting God when life feels confusing. Being spiritually awake is about being present—paying attention to what’s going on in your life and in your heart, and choosing to invite Jesus into it.

Advent is a great time to focus on this. We might think of Advent as just the countdown to Christmas. But in the Church, Advent is a season of waiting and watching. It’s a time to prepare—not just for the celebration of Jesus’ birth, but for the way He wants to come into our lives right now. It’s a season that reminds us to open our eyes, open our hearts, and stay alert. Jesus doesn’t just come once a year. He wants to meet us every day.

You might ask, “What does that actually look like?” It could be setting aside five minutes a day to pray. It could be reading a short Bible passage. It could be turning off your phone for a while to be quiet with God. It could be helping your sibling or being more patient with your parents. These are simple things, but they wake us up. They remind us who we are—children of God who are called to love.

This isn’t about being perfect. You’re going to mess up sometimes. We all do. But staying awake means you keep trying. You don’t give up. You ask God for help when you feel tired, distracted, or lost. You tell Him when you’re struggling. And you trust that He listens and cares.

So take a minute and think: What helps me feel close to God? What makes me feel distant? What is one small thing I can do this week to stay more awake in my faith?

Jesus is always near. He’s not waiting for you to get everything right. He’s just asking you to stay awake, to be ready, and to let Him into your life. One step at a time. One day at a time. And He’ll do the rest.

In small groups, give everyone a chance to share, but remind them they can pass if they are not ready to talk. Encourage listening and respect. This is a time for honest conversation, not judgment. Try to keep the focus on how the Scripture and lesson relate to real life. After each person shares, allow space for silence or gentle follow-up questions. Keep the tone calm and welcoming.

• What does “staying spiritually awake” mean to you in your own words?
• What are some things in your life that make it easy to forget about God?
• When do you feel closest to Jesus? What helps you notice His presence?
• Do you think most people today are spiritually awake or asleep? Why?
• How can prayer help you stay awake to what really matters?
• What is one small way you can try to be more spiritually awake this week?
• Is there something you want to stop doing because it pulls you away from God?
• Is there something new you want to try to help you grow closer to God?
• Who in your life helps you stay focused on your faith?
• What part of this lesson or Scripture stood out to you the most? Why?

Here’s a challenge for you this week: choose to stay spiritually awake each day. That doesn’t mean doing something huge or dramatic. It means paying attention to what really matters and looking for ways to stay close to Jesus. You can start small. Set aside just five minutes a day to talk to God in prayer. You don’t need fancy words—just be honest. Tell Him what’s on your heart and ask Him to help you stay awake to His presence.

Also, try to notice one moment each day when you can show kindness or help someone who needs it. Maybe it’s including someone who feels left out, helping at home without being asked, or encouraging a friend who is down. These simple actions help you live out what Jesus taught. They keep your heart open. So this week, be awake, be kind, and stay connected to God, even in the small things.

Let’s take a moment to pray together. Find a quiet place in your heart. Take a deep breath and remember that God is here with us right now.

Lord Jesus,
Thank You for being close to us, even when we forget You.
Thank You for loving us, even when we fall asleep inside.
Help us to stay awake this week—to Your voice, to Your presence, and to the needs of others.
Show us how to live each day with open eyes and open hearts.
Help us to notice You in the small moments and in the people around us.
Give us the courage to pray, to love, and to choose what is good.
Walk with us and guide us as we try to follow You more closely.

Amen.

Themes for the Staying Awake Lesson Plan on Advent

• Staying Spiritually Awake: Jesus tells us to be ready and watchful. We are called to live each day close to Him. This means choosing faith over distraction.
• Jesus Will Come Again: The Church teaches that Jesus will return one day. We do not know when, so we must be ready. This changes how we live now.
• Advent as Preparation: Advent is a time to get ready for Jesus. It reminds us to open our hearts to Him. This lesson connects Advent with daily life.
• Daily Choices Matter: Our small choices shape who we are. When we choose love, honesty, and prayer, we grow in faith. Being ready means living well every day.
• God in Ordinary Life: God is present in simple moments. We don’t need big signs to see Him. We just need to be aware and open.
• Avoiding Distractions: Many things pull us away from God. Social media, stress, and noise can fill our minds. We need quiet time to hear His voice.
• Living Without Fear: Jesus does not want us to be scared. He wants us to trust Him. Being ready means living in peace, not fear.
• Making Time for Prayer: Prayer keeps us close to Jesus. It helps us stay awake to His presence. Even short prayers matter.
• Helping Others Daily: One way to stay ready is to serve others. Acts of kindness and love bring us closer to Christ. They show we are awake to His call.
• God’s Mercy is Always There: If we fall asleep spiritually, God still loves us. We can always return to Him. He is patient and forgiving.
• Jesus is With Us Now: We do not wait alone. Jesus comes to us in the Eucharist, Scripture, and people around us. We can meet Him every day.

Background Material for the Staying Awake Lesson Plan on Advent

This lesson plan is based on Matthew 24:37-44, where Jesus tells His followers to stay awake and be ready. He warns that no one knows the day or the hour when the Son of Man will come. This is a key message in Catholic teaching. It reminds us to live every day in a way that shows we love God and are ready to meet Him.

The Catholic Church teaches that Jesus will come again at the end of time. This is called the Second Coming. We say it every Sunday at Mass when we proclaim the Creed: “He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead.” This belief helps shape how we live now. We are not just waiting for a future event. We are trying to live each day with faith, hope, and love.

In this lesson, youth are encouraged to think about what it means to stay spiritually awake. This fits with the Church’s teaching on being faithful and alert. Jesus says in Matthew 24:42, “Stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.” This is not just about the end of the world. It’s about being ready to see Jesus at any time—in prayer, in others, and in our daily lives.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church says: “Since the Ascension Christ’s coming in glory has been imminent… This eschatological coming could be accomplished at any moment, even if both it and the final trial that will precede it are ‘delayed’” (CCC 673). This means we should always be prepared. But we do not wait in fear. We wait with trust. We believe Jesus is with us now and that He will come again.

Advent is a season that helps us understand this message. During Advent, we prepare to celebrate Jesus’ birth. But we also look ahead to His coming again. The Church asks us to reflect, pray, and pay attention. It is a time to clear out the noise and distractions in our lives and make room for Jesus.

Youth today face many distractions. School, sports, phones, social media—all these can make it hard to focus on God. This lesson helps young people stop and ask, “Am I awake to God? Am I living in a way that shows I’m ready to meet Jesus?” These are simple but deep questions that matter.

This lesson is not about fear or guilt. It is about awareness and love. It shows how being spiritually awake brings peace and purpose. It helps youth see that Jesus is not far away. He is near. He is present. He is calling us to live in His light.

By staying awake, we stay close to Jesus. We grow in faith and love. We live each day as a gift. And we help others do the same. This is what the Church calls us to do.

Music Suggestions for the Staying Awake Lesson Plan on Advent

• Awake, O Sleeper by Ike Ndolo
• Find Us Ready by Tom Booth
• Prepare the Way by Passion with Charlie Hall

More Youth Ministry Lesson Plans and Reflections

For more free lesson plans and reflections, visit our Youth Ministry Lesson Plans and Reflections page. You’ll find a variety of resources to help youth grow in faith and face real-life issues with courage and hope.

Each lesson is made for youth ministers, catechists, and teachers. The topics are easy to understand and ready to use. From dealing with stress to living out the Gospel, you’ll find something for every group. Check it out here: Youth Ministry Lesson Plans and Reflections.