resurrection from the dead, there is no more marriage. Besides, they cannot die, for they are like the angels. They are sons and daughters of God, because they are born of the resurrection. Yes, the dead will be raised, as Moses revealed at the burning bush, when he called the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. For God is God of the living, and not of the dead, for to him everyone is alive.” Some teachers of the law then agreed with Jesus, “Master, you have spoken well.” They didn’t dare ask him anything else.
Reflections
Jesus argues with Sadducees. They are anti-resurrection. They understood this world to be the only world in which God would act and share his blessings and promises. For them it is a case of either-or. They approach Jesus with a case meant to make resurrection look ridiculous. Jesus brushes them off by saying that with afterlife, God does not use our neat categories about marriage but freedom from all kinds of human-made barriers and conditions. In the next scene, some scribes (presumably Pharisees, surely believers in both justice and resurrection) appear and warmly approve of Jesus’ wisdom, and with that, all questioning ends. Life after death is a completely different realm. We simply do not have the ability to envision it. It is far beyond us. It definitely will not be like this world. However, if we live our life in a loving and wholehearted way, we need not be worried about what is waiting for us on “the other side.” What matters is life before death. We can begin to live fully, justly and harmoniously our relationships here and now. Acts of charity and mercy are our utmost concerns and by doing so, we live the power of the resurrection in the present life.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2018