Jesus once said to his disciples, “What I say unto you I say unto all, Watch” (Mark 13:37). Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer of the Science that Christ Jesus taught, often pointed out the need for watchfulness. In Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, she writes, “Audible prayer can never do the works of spiritual understanding, which regenerates; but silent prayer, watchfulness, and devout obedience enable us to follow Jesus’ example” (p. 4). 

I recently came across a Sentinel article about watching that made it clear that watching is being steadfast in Truth, which is another name for God. The author of the article, John Lathrop, was a student of Mrs. Eddy, and in his reminiscences, he recounts a story she shared with him that illustrated the need for watching. 

During the American Civil War, a Confederate soldier was about to fire on a Union soldier, when he heard the man singing a hymn as he marched up and down the breastworks. The sniper lowered his rifle and listened. At the conclusion of the hymn, he and his comrades retreated and left without firing.