A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke 20:27-40

Some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection,

came forward and put this question to Jesus, saying,

“Teacher, Moses wrote for us, If someone’s brother dies leaving a wife but no child, his brother must take the wife

and raise up descendants for his brother. Now there were seven brothers; the first married a woman but died childless. Then the second and the third married her, and likewise all the seven died childless. Finally the woman also died. Now at the resurrection whose wife will that woman be? For all seven had been married to her.” Jesus said to them, “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 because they are the ones who will rise. That the dead will rise even Moses made known in the passage about the bush, when he called ‘Lord’ the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.” Some of the scribes said in reply, “Teacher, you have answered well.” And they no longer dared to ask him anything.

Reflection:

I often think of life after death and how life will be when I get to heaven. Will the relationships I have here on earth be different in the next life? It is natural to make assumptions that heaven will be like this life on earth without the evils of the world. Heaven is holy and this earthly life is the only life we understand. Jesus reveals heaven’s ways and contradicts the Sadducees in their disbelief of a resurrection and the existence of spiritual beings such as angels. Jesus also uses the Sadducees’ reference of Moses to explain that our God is a God of life. They were left speechless.

In my silent contemplation of heaven, I have hope in my soul for my creator is the God of the living and he is my father. This Father of mine lovingly takes care of his children, making sure we have everything we need for the journey home. We have substance for strength to continue the journey by receiving the Eucharist. We have the Word of God to fill our hearts and lead our steps toward heaven. We have a way to amend our sins through confession and to find our way back to the right path. We also have Mother Mary, the saints and each other to lend support in times of trials. He sets us apart from everyone else and he gives the world a chance to be part of His holy family. Let us rejoice in our God for his plan is perfect and everlasting.

Christ has given a small heavenly glimpse of what the Father has in store for the children of God. Much of it is unknown to us, but one thing we know for sure is that we will rise and live in eternity. What an amazing Father we have in heaven!