REFLECTION:

One of the things I have heard parents say, and something I witnessed growing up, is this: a parent cannot truly sleep until they know all of their children are home safely. I remember my own mom doing that. If one of us was out late, she would stay awake. She might lie down for a while, but she wasn't really sleeping. Every little sound outside would catch her attention. She would wait until she heard the front door open and knew everyone was home. Only then could she finally rest.

Therefore, what makes a person stay up all night for someone? The answer is simple: love.

The prophet Isaiah writes, "My soul yearns for you in the night, yes, my spirit within me keeps vigil for you." Those are not the words of someone who feels obligated to pray. They are the words of someone deeply in love with God. Just as a parent stays awake because their heart is with their child, Isaiah speaks of a heart that cannot stop seeking the Lord.

How often do we stay awake worrying about work, finances, relationships, or our future? We can spend hours thinking about so many things. But when was the last time we lost sleep because we longed to spend time with God? When was the last time our desire for Him was greater than our desire for answers, comfort, or success?

Today we celebrate Our Lady of Mount Carmel, a title that reminds us of Mary's life of prayer and complete trust in God. The Carmelite tradition teaches us the importance of silence, contemplation, and remaining close to the Lord. Mary's whole life was one of keeping vigil. She pondered God's Word in her heart. She stood faithfully beneath the Cross. She never stopped watching over her Son, and she continues to watch over us as our spiritual Mother.

The Brown Scapular, so closely associated with Our Lady of Mount Carmel, is not a good luck charm or a guarantee of heaven. It is a reminder that we belong to Christ through Mary. Every time we wear it, we are invited to ask ourselves: Does my heart truly long for God? Am I seeking Him each day, or only when I need something?

Perhaps today Isaiah invites us to examine not simply our prayer life, but our desires. We always make time for what we love. Parents stay awake because they love their children. Friends travel long distances because they love one another. People sacrifice sleep for the things that matter most.

May we ask the Lord for a heart that longs for Him with that same intensity. And through the loving intercession of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, may we learn to keep vigil—not out of fear or obligation, but because our greatest desire is to remain close to the One who first loved us.