(Holy Tuesday): Be Ready, Be Watchful.
Holy Tuesday draws us into the final teachings of Jesus, a day not of action, but of urgent, weighty words. Knowing the cross is near, Jesus speaks plainly about the end, about truth and deception, and about the necessity of being ready for His return.
His message echoes through parables and warnings: the King is coming, be prepared.
In passages like Matthew 24:42–44 and Mark 13:35–37, the command is clear and repeated: “Watch.”
We are reminded that we do not know the hour of His coming, and so we are called to live in constant readiness, not fearfully, but faithfully.
The Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1–13) brings this truth to life. All ten had lamps, but only five carried oil.
The lamps symbolise outward religion, while the oil represents a living, personal faith sustained by the Spirit and rooted in relationship with God.
When the bridegroom arrives unexpectedly, only those who are truly prepared enter in. The others, though outwardly similar, are left behind.
This is not meant to frighten, but to awaken. Jesus lovingly calls us out of spiritual complacency.
Faith cannot be borrowed or inherited, it must be our own. A vibrant walk with God, daily repentance, genuine love, and watchful expectation, these are the marks of a ready heart.
To “watch” means more than waiting; it means living each day with purpose and awareness. It means loving well, forgiving quickly, and keeping our hearts aligned with God. It means being spiritually awake in a distracted world.
As the shadow of the cross lengthens, the question becomes deeply personal:
If Jesus returned today, would He find us ready?
Let this be a day of renewal, trimming our lamps, refilling our oil, and turning our hearts fully toward Him. For the One who calls us to watch is also the One who gives us grace to be ready.