LIFE FOREVER

SABBATH

I once heard a joke: The Sadducees do not believe in the resurrection so they are “sad, you see” (Sadd...u... cees). Get it? The Sadducees were a dominant religious group that originated during the times of the Maccabees dynasty. Their name meant “righteous ones.” They were the society’s aristocrats, rich descendants of high priests. In their many belief systems, they denied the concept of life after death and the resurrection of the body. The Sadducees opposed Jesus because He accepted more than the teachings of the Torah, the authoritative tool for the Sadducees. They also opposed Jesus out of fear of losing their powerful wealth and influence with the ruling power of the day, the Romans. They came to pose their problem to Jesus, hoping to ridicule His belief in the resurrection. They began by citing the Law of Moses, the chief authority on such matters of life and religion. Jesus was intelligent in His reply as He stated the obvious: there is no marriage in heaven. Marriage is an earthly reality, instituted by God for man and woman on earth. They are no longer united in heaven as if married, but all become sons and daughters of God in the Kingdom. He was able to turn the issue on their head by citing Moses. The famous burning bush account clearly suggested that God is the Lord of the living. All are alive in God. Jesus has given us access to the Father of life. It is the will of the Father that none be lost. While we live on earth, there are certain realities and states of life that are good and holy in living out God’s will. Our time on earth is short so we are to make the most of it. There is a resurrection of the dead. There is life eternal and there is life after death. Eternal life awaits those who have put their trust in the Lord.  Fr. Brian Steele, MGL   Reflection Question: What are you waiting for?   I believe in the resurrection of the body and the life of the world to come. Amen. (Profession of Faith)   St. Crispin, pray for us.