Read Matthew 24:42
Before I met Christ, I was a curious soul with an insatiable love for history. I devoured books like they were food for my mind, eager to uncover the stories of empires, civilizations, and forgotten lives. History fascinated me. Not just for its grandeur, but for the quiet, ordinary moments that led up to earth-shattering events.
One such moment that stopped me in my tracks was the tragic story of Pompeii.
It was August 24, AD 79—just another ordinary day in a thriving Roman town of about 20,000 people. The markets bustled. Children laughed in the streets. Merchants sold their wares. Life unfolded in its usual rhythm.
And then, around 8:00 in the morning, Mt. Vesuvius gave its first sign. A strange emission of smoke drifted from its peak. Many didn’t even notice. Some were curious, others indifferent. But by the afternoon, the mountain exploded in fury. Ash, fire, and molten rock rained from the sky. In less than 24 hours, Pompeii was buried. Silenced. Lost beneath a suffocating blanket of volcanic ash.
What struck me the most was this: no one expected it.
Now, as a Christian, I often think of Pompeii—not just as a tragedy of the past, but as a quiet warning echoing into our present. Because there is another day coming, far greater and more glorious—but just as unexpected.
“Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.” — Matthew 24:42
Jesus told His disciples that He would return on a day like any other. People will be going about their daily lives, eating meals, making plans, marrying, scrolling through phones, finishing work projects. Life as usual. Business as usual.
Until, suddenly, it’s not.
The reason for the suddenness? Not to instill fear, but urgency. To stir our hearts from slumber. To remind us not to grow lazy in our faith or distracted by the comforts and chaos of this world.
We are called to watch.To prepare.To be ready.
Because just like Pompeii, the signs may come quietly. And just like then, many may not see them.
But oh, what a surprising joy it will be, to meet our Savior on an “ordinary” day!
What unspeakable glory to look up on a Tuesday morning or a Thursday afternoon and see the skies split open with the radiance of Christ, coming for His bride!
Let us not be sluggards.Let us not be caught unready.Let our lamps be full, our hearts awake, and our eyes fixed on the horizon.
Perhaps today.He is coming.
Shalom, Maranatha.
Sis. Mae Perocho
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