Watch

The story is told about a man who named his dogs Rolex, Timex and Seiko. When asked why he named them so, his simple reply was: “They are watch dogs.”

In today’s Gospel (Mt. 25, 1-13), Jesus warns us in the Parable of the Ten Virgins to be watchful and vigilant: “Therefore, stay awake for you know neither the day nor the hour.” Let us be ready because the Lord can call us at any time.

We are responsible for the life we live. We can live foolish or wise lives. We are accountable for our own lives. We cannot and should not blame the situation or other people for what we turn out to be. It’s your life, it’s your watch.

What do you need to watch in order to live a meaningful life? First, you have to watch your watch. Your watch tells the time, but it also tells you that time on earth is limited. Life is short, death is certain. Do not postpone your conversion. Do not postpone your loving.

Watch your steps. See that you do not take the wrong path. See that you watch where you are going. No need to hurry. Our journey on earth is not about going far and fast. Slow down. Haste makes waste, remember?

Watch your manners. See that you are not unkind to anyone, in thought, word, and deed. Respect people. Respect institutions which were there before you and will still be there long after you are gone. No one is indispensable in this world, including you.

Watch your tongue. It is not at all right to curse, cuss, and say bad words. It is not at all right to threaten, defame, speak falsely and tell lies. Don’t use your tongue as a sword to hate, punish and hurt people.

Watch your diet. Watch what you eat, and watch what is eating you. There is value in sacrifice and self-denial. Do not eat with passion, but with compassion for yourself. (Be good to yourself. Eat right!) And eat with compassion for and solidarity with others who have little or nothing to eat.

Watch your back. See to it that you do not step on people on your way up. There will always be envious and insecure persons who will try to bring you down, talk behind your back, or even stab you in the back. Cowards we call them, those who do so secretly and anonymously.

Watch your weight. Do not carry unnecessary pounds in your body, and learn to let go of useless baggage—material, emotional, and spiritual burdens that make your journey difficult, and make you lose your way.

Watch your surroundings.  Care for nature, care for our world. Watch and be involved. A lot of people are suffering around us. You are not alone, and certainly, the world does not revolve around you.

Watch out. God is watching us. God sees everything and everyone. There is one divine justice. The good will be rewarded. The evil will be punished.

And finally, keep watch. Stay with people: Be present, be appropriate, be within reach. Most of all, keep watch with God. Be still, be silent, be simple before God. Take time to listen, meditate, and discern. Pray much. Pray more. Pray often. Keep these “watches,” and you will not live a foolish life.

Inviting you to the 30th Eucharistic Congress on Nov. 25, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the St. Joseph’s Convent of Perpetual Adoration (Pink Sisters Convent), 71 M. Hemady Avenue, corner 11th Street, New Manila, Quezon City. The invited speakers are Fr. Raymund Festin, provincial superior of the SVD Central Province and spiritual director of the Eucharistic Adorers League; Msgr. Pedro Gerardo Santos, Ed.D., parish priest of Saints Peter and Paul Parish, Makati City; and His Eminence Archbishop Bernardito Auza, papal nuncio to the Philippines. There will be a procession and benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, and a holy Mass to end the congress. For inquiries, please call 0923-1448040 or 09927-3664116.

A moment with the Lord:

Lord, help us to be open, vigilant, and watchful, so that when You call us, we will be ready to face You, our Savior. Amen.