Saturday of Week 34 – Daniel 7:15-27; Luke 21:34-36
“Be vigilant, therefore, and pray at all times” Lk 21:36a
We all know how to keep watch when something really matters to us. Think about it – when the moment is important, we don’t want to miss it. We tune in completely, focusing every ounce of attention so that we’re ready when the time comes.
In some jobs, vigilance can literally be the difference between life and death – for a miner, a firefighter, a sapper, a driver. They can’t afford to be careless; they’re alert, prepared for the unexpected. And it’s not just in dangerous work – picture a mum sitting by the bed of her sick child. She gives up her rest, her comfort, maybe even her meals, just to be there the instant her little one needs her. That’s love on watch.
When we’re expecting someone important, we keep our eyes peeled and our ears open – every little sound could be them arriving. Of course, every kind of waiting is different. But they all share one thing: when you’re truly watching, you stay focused on the goal. Other things fade into the background, because in that moment, they just don’t matter.
Now, when Jesus talks about keeping watch, is He asking us to live in a constant state of stress, scanning the horizon for signs of His Second Coming? No – that’s not the point. It doesn’t matter if He comes today, tomorrow, or years from now. What matters is this: will I be ready when He does?
Will He find me weighed down with gluttony, drunkenness, and the endless distractions of this world? Or will my heart be free – detached from what doesn’t last, open to what truly matters? Will He see in me at least a small reflection of Himself… or hear me claim to know Him, only for Him to say He doesn’t know me?
Keeping watch means living each day with our priorities in the right order – God first, always. It’s choosing values rooted in Him, so that whenever He comes – at any moment – He’ll find us prepared, joyful, and ready to run to meet Him.