This evening, I started pondering “Watch”. I have been bothered lately by so many so-called “watch groups” that say they are “looking out” for what is “best” for the church. I couldn’t help but ponder what our Lord had told us, and tells us today about “watching”.

Hebrews 13:17 comes to mind. “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.”

There are so many “groups” out there looking to lead the “Flock” through web site, usually with the name “watch” in them, posting as if they have the authority in the first place to state what is in need for the salvation of the faithful.

All I can tell by them, in all cases is that the division they are causing “WITHIN” the church is not the “division” our Lord speaks about. Our Lord, through the Holy Spirit “Gathers” the faithful. He is always searching hearts to bring INTO the flock. He is never seeking to scatter the flock to “clean” the Temple and as faithful we can never assume it is our job to help Him “toss the bums out”.

We must understand that our Lord has given all of us, through His command to “watch” for His coming. To “Watch” ourselves in our words, actions and to frequent the Sacraments, to pray to ensure our “Lamps” are full, rather than point fingers at His sheep and shepherds, to keep watch over OUR “temples”, ourselves, to ensure they are clean before He comes to clean them for us! We forget that our Lord “cleansed the temple” without any need for anyone to help Him.

If your “house” is a mess, if even one little think is out-of-place, and ALL of us have a “messy house”, how can you point at your neighbors and say to him if you don’t cut your grass I’m bringing a wrecking ball and taking your entire house down. Sound familiar?

The watch we have is not for worry about what others are doing, for what we perceive to be, but rather what WE are doing to ensure our “interior” and “exterior” is clean and tidy for when He does come.

I have a hard enough time watching my own “front step” and keeping “clean” let alone “Watching” what others are doing to point it out. We are all given a an order from our Lord to “Watch” for Him and “watch out for yourselves”. Imagine how “tidy” your “house” could be if you spent more time taking care of your “housework” rather than what the grass looks like on the other side of the fence.

“May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!’”

Watch. Not watch and point out others. Watch yourself and trust in His word. “Watch out for yourselves.”