Watch Out!

Luke 21:5-19

⁷ They asked him, “Rabbi, if this is so, when will these events take place? And what sign will show that they are about to happen?” ⁸ He answered, “Watch out! Don’t be fooled! For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time has come!’ Don’t go after them.

I could be wrong, but I don’t think that Jesus ever obliged anyone who asked him for a “sign.” So, he answers the annoying request for details about what disasters might or might not happen down the road, by yelling “Watch Out!”

One more time, Jesus tells us that we’re paying attention to the wrong things!

In this case we started by admiring ourselves and our collective accomplishments, patting ourselves on the back and telling ourselves how amazing we are, and then, when Jesus tells us that all that pretty stuff will be totally ruined, we want him to tell us how we’ll be able to know when it’s about to happen. Now, why do you suppose we might want to know that ahead of time….? Could it be that we’re thinking that we might be able to salvage something, rescue some remnant of our triumphs, preserve some memorial of our greatness, if we just knew far enough in advance? I think that’s exactly what we thought, and we are still thinking it. We are still doing it. We are still letting ourselves be fooled. So many things we adore; things we can’t do without; things we praise and admire; things we want to own.

Taking a Zen sort of view, it’s possible that Jesus didn’t use the word “many” to mean ‘many people’ but that “many” means just exactly that.  The ‘many’ enticements; the ‘many’ diversions; the ‘many’ turn-ons? Suppose he meant “the ‘great array of distractions’”? The Multiplicity? The roiling, bubbling, tickling, itching, clattering, teasing, pestiferous hubbub of attractions that we can’t seem to ignore no matter how hard we try? I can hear the voice of the carnival barker now — “Step right up, ladies and gents, and see the amazing Diddle-o-Ramus do its diddling! Can I have a volunteer? You sir, come right up here on stage and experience the delight of allowing yourself to be diddled! That’s right, folks, and if you think that’s wonderful, let me introduce the magnificent Bilk-o-Tron! Just look at it sparkle! Imagine it installed in your very own home! Think of how jealous your neighbors will be, and how much they will admire you for being the very first on your block to be bilked! Come one, come all, pay your fee at the door, a mere pittance that will acquaint you with the one, the only, method of achieving wealth and happiness! Satisfaction guaranteed! No refunds or returns.”

I can hear the wheezing tootle of the calliope

from a long way off,

and there’s a line outside the circus tent.

“Watch out!” says Jesus, “Don’t be stupid!

Don’t go chasing after the clowns in that shambling parade!

Nobody puts up billboards in a ghost town,

and I ain’t no circus act.”