Keep alert. The Unthinkable Will Happen.

It's International Women's Day which has nothing specifically to do with the text in the Narrative Lectionary for this week. However, as I read and think of the text I can't help but realize the lack of women in the story that we're preaching. This isn't something new - there are plenty of times when women are missing from stories in the Bible despite Jesus' intentional relationship with women and Paul's obvious collaboration with women leaders to build the early Christian church. Did you see the archaeological find that was recently in the news? To the right is a picture of a woman clearly leading worship. You can read more about it here. 

Back to the text, I found myself researching the Jewish revolt, the Maccabees and the Siege of Jerusalem. I found this image from the Arch of Titus memorializing the sacred things being taken away as the temple is pillaged. All of these stories are of men, strong men, army men, commanding men, heroes remembered in history books. But where are the women? 

What were the women doing when the Jewish leaders were planning their revolt? What of the women in the Maccabees family? Or how about Titus' wife or daughters? What were they doing when the events alluded to by Jesus in our text actually happened? I dare say they were watching. 

---

---

Not passively watching but active watching - the way we watch when horror is inflicted. The way we are acutely aware of the losses occurring on both sides of the battle. The kind of watching we do when our way of life is swept away with the dust of the battlefield. 

The call to be alert in verse 37 can't simply mean "be on the lookout." To me, it almost seems like the phrase could say, "You don't think it could happen. we never think this can happen to us but it will. Be alert. Keep watch." 

The transformation that is happening in our world in every industry is shocking. The industries that build things, the industries that fund things, the industries that educate people, the industries that heal people... none of them are able to stay as they were. All of them are having to change - and rapidly. "You don't think it could happen. We never think this can happen to us but it will. Be alert. Keep watch." 

And those of us caring for this industry that we call "church" know how much is changing. We are stunned by how much needs to change and how fast it must happen. Destruction is part of transformation. Seige and pillage, the sacred things being taken away is all part of the process of transformation. No way... that can't happen to us. Be alert. Keep watch.