I met a dog named Henry today. A poodle. White. He was guarding the territory of the house I was visiting. He was not unfriendly, just reserved. Several sharp barks greeted me on my arrival . Later he regarded me from the arms of his owner. The pooch saw no need to try to make friends with me. The feeling was mutual.
For forty-five minutes we both ignored each other. Finally, the owner placed him on the floor and the animal proceeded to go off duty: He rested inattentive underneath the coffee table in the front room.
Vigilance is very Christian. We are waiting for the return of Our Lord Jesus Christ. We should be watching and listening for Him.
We should be vigilant for someone else, too. “Be alert!,” St. Peter cautions in his epistle, because your adversary goes about like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him steadfast in the faith.”
So we need awareness of how evil itself, roaring and hungry, could catch the lazy Christian off guard.
At the same time we should be ready to embrace the Lord Jesus when He comes in glory.
The dog, Henry, is a sentinel on the bulwarks of the family home, waiting and then warning the family of approaching danger.
Our Christian sentinels are those who remind us constantly of the signs of the presence of Jesus in the world.
Today, there are echos of Jesus in the words of his followers. We see His traces and the footprints in the wonderful actions of those who believe in Him and live that belief.
But we don’t see Him, yet. We must keep watching and waiting. Arf! Arf!