By Fr Stephan Alexander
General Manager, CCSJ and AMMR
There is something comical about choirs using the song ‘Wake Up, My People’ at early morning Masses. This creatively polite way of energising and encouraging muted parishioners to adopt robust responses to prayers is always impactful.
At a recent 6 a.m. Mass, I chuckled to myself as the entrance procession began and the cascading effect of parishioner after parishioner singing louder and louder took hold.
The church was fully awake by the time I reverenced the altar. Responses were joyful and lively. Ray Repp’s popular song had again impacted me and my early morning congregation.
However, on this occasion the words of the song seemed sharper and more potent. They spoke to the myriad of social challenges, from poverty and inequality to violence and crime that currently overwhelm our country.
I was awakened—not from sleep but from spiritual complacency. Challenged by Repp’s call to actively participate in the work of justice and compassion, my desire to bring the gospel’s transformative message to our local reality was renewed as I remembered that those of us who are called to follow Christ’s teachings of love, justice, and mercy have a unique responsibility to respond to these societal ills.
‘Wake Up, My People’ draws from the rich tradition of biblical prophecy and Catholic Social Teaching (CST). The title itself echoes the cry of the prophets, especially Isaiah, who called God’s people to wake up from their indifference and act justly.
Isaiah 58:1–12, for instance, rebukes those who practise hollow religious rituals without addressing the needs of the oppressed: “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free?”
This prophetic message finds its resonance in ‘Wake Up, My People’, which calls us to recognise the suffering in our midst and respond with love and justice. This popular song is meant to serve as a rallying cry for Catholics, urging us to leave behind any passivity and to engage directly with the issues that plague our society. Repp’s message aligns seamlessly with key scriptural passages that emphasise the importance of action in the face of injustice.
Matthew 25:31–46, where Jesus identifies Himself with the least of His brothers and sisters is one such passage: “I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”
These words remind us that our faith is not merely a matter of personal piety but is expressed through concrete acts of love and service.
These scriptural calls to action take on a heightened urgency in our current reality. Many of our fellow citizens are in desperate need of food, shelter, safety, and companionship. Friends, “… people are waiting… waiting hopefully” and we, the Church, are called to respond to their needs, not only through charity but also through advocacy for systemic change.
As Pope Francis reminds us, “An authentic faith… always involves a deep desire to change the world, to transmit values, to leave this earth somehow better than we found it.”
Our mission is to connect CST to action. As we “wake up” we can incorporate the following actions into our ministry:
‘Wake Up, My People’ is not just a song—it is a challenge. It challenges us to open our eyes to the realities of suffering in our society and to respond with the love and justice that Christ demands. By grounding ourselves in the teachings of Scripture and the Church, and by taking concrete action in our communities, we can help to bring about the change that T&T so desperately needs.
As Catholics, we are called not to remain passive observers of society’s problems but to be active participants in the work of building a more just and compassionate world.
Let us heed the call, wake up, and act.
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Catholic Commission for Social Justice
Account #: 290 458 025 501
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or you can contact us at: admin.ccsj@catholictt.org