Reading Lk 20:27, 34-38
In today's Gospel passage we hear of the Sadducees questioning the Lord about his view on the ressuerction of the dead. Now, before we go any further remember the Sadducees were rich men ( chief priests) who enjoyed life and with so much money at their disposal the last thing they needed to think about was the ressuerction of the dead.
The Sadducees decide to press Jesus further by pointing out to the Lord that there is no teaching in the Torah regarding the ressuerection of the dead. But the Lord replies to them saying:
“The children of this age marry and remarry;
but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age
and to the resurrection of the dead
neither marry nor are given in marriage.
They can no longer die,
for they are like angels;
and they are the children of God
but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age
and to the resurrection of the dead
neither marry nor are given in marriage.
They can no longer die,
for they are like angels;
and they are the children of God
Jesus argues from the same written Law of Moses to show that there is resurrection. Using the texts from the Book of Exodus (Chapter 3) that describe Moses' encounter with God in the burning bush, Jesus shows that God is the God of the living, not the dead. Here Jesus uses the same method and texts of the Sadducees to counter them. As the Gospel text suggests, he beat them at their own game!
More importantly, in this discourse Jesus shows the limits of our imaginations when it comes to eternal life. The Sadducees argued against resurrection because of the limits of earthly existence. They did not imagine another possibility for existence and relationship with God. Jesus proposes that the possibilities of resurrected life are beyond our imaginations. Jesus' conclusion suggests something else as well: To spend time worrying about resurrected life is to miss the point. The point is eternal relationship with God is possible, for God is the God of the living, “. . . for to him all are alive.”
Brothers and Sisters, as we begin another week may we reflect on Christ's words
"he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”
Let us keep focus on God and together let us look forward to the ressuerction of the dead and the life of the world to come as we boldly proclaim when we profess our faith.
Marcelles Amiatu
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