Seven Brothers for One
Bride is not quite how the Broadway musical and movie title went. [Seven
Brides for Seven Brothers in case you're not up on your 1950's musical
theater/film history] The Sadducees didn't believe in life after
death. That's why they were "sad u cee." I know it's terrible,
but it's a mnemonic that helps me remember one difference between the Sadducees
and the Pharisees. The Sadducees, who were always interested in baiting Jesus
with a trick question, asked about the practice of a woman/widow with no
children marrying the brother of her deceased spouse in hopes of producing
children (specifically sons) to carry the family line. In this absurd and
hypothetical case, the woman would be widowed and childless seven times by
seven brothers. The Sadducees wanted to know ~ if there is this resurrection
thing ~ whose wife would she be in the after-life? For those requiring concrete
answers to mystical ponderings it may seem to be a reasonable question, but in
truth it is irrelevant.
Jesus gives a simple answer to a nonsensical question. He points out that the
life in resurrection is not a continuation of our earthly human existence. It
is, instead, a radical transformation, unimaginable in our human context; a
completely different state of being, a transfiguration. We will be who we are
but different in ways beyond our limited ability to comprehend in our current
state. He tells them that those who belong to this age marry...but...those...in
the resurrection of the dead do not marry. Indeed they cannot
die anymore...God is not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them
are alive... To put it simply, in our human sojourn many of us marry,
some more than once or twice. Yet remember, in western wedding ceremonies ~ religious
or not ~ the marriage is only until death us do part. After a
spouse’s death we are no longer married; neither is the spouse who has died.
After human death we are alive differently in a transition from the temporary
state of humanness to the eternal life in the salvation of Christ. Can we fully
understand ~ sort of, maybe, not really. For one thing, those who have lost
their spouse in death may continue to feel married to that person for a time or
some will for always. But have no worries about it. LIVE in this life,
work to be worthy of a place in the next. As the psalmist sings, keep your
footsteps on God’s path and hide, when needed, under the shadow of God’s wings.
Even Job knew that his Redeemer, and ours, lives. The relevant questions, and
so many more, will be answered in the sweet by and by.
LET
US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
Leader: ~ O God of Love and Grace, in You earthly death is a transition
to Life Eternal for we who are children of the resurrection. Keep us as the
apple of Your eye and shelter us under the shadow of Your wings throughout our
human moment on this Earth.
O Lord of Comfort and Good
Hope
RESPONSE: Guide our steps on your path
~ O God of Love and Grace, may we, and those who lead us on
this Earth, in this Nation, and in this Community, arise each day with eyes
fixed on justice, act without deceit, and have heartfelt intent and purpose to
govern only in the best interests of Your planet and Your people. We pray
especially for: add your own petitions
O Lord of Comfort and Good Hope
Guide our steps on your path
~ O God of Love and Grace, incline Your ear to heed the cries of
all whose spirits are low from chronic illness, deadly addiction, or emotional
turmoil, and lift the energy of those who give them care. We now join our
voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions
O Lord of Comfort and Good Hope
Guide our steps on your path
~ O God of Love and Grace, turn our grief to joy as we send our
loved ones Home to never die again, but raised in eternal splendor and glory to
new life in Christ. We pray especially for…add your own petitions
O Lord of Comfort and Good Hope
Guide our steps on your path
~ O God of Love and Grace, we pause in
this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions,
petitions, and memorials, aloud or silently…add
your own petitions
O Lord of Comfort and Good Hope
Guide our steps on your path
~ O God of Love and Grace, ease the path of all who are anointed
to call us to Your Word and Sacraments, inspiring us to serve in this world
together in Christ’s holy name. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
O Lord of Comfort and Good Hope
Guide
our steps on your path
The Celebrant adds: Creator
Lord, Spirit of Hope, two days and 107 years ago, your people breathed in hope
for the future, at the official end of World War I. Yet we restive humans
continue wars on distant battlefields, in our local communities, and in the
halls of political policy. We are surrounded by large and small wars of ethnic,
racial, gender, religious oppression, and more. Hold us closely as we strive to
fill the needs of our neighbors, cry out for justice for the downtrodden, and
work to flourish the peace, the truth, and the universal love in Christ’s
Gospel for all of us, every day, everywhere. We ask through Jesus, our Divine
Example; and the Holy Spirit, our Wisdom Guide; who together with You are One
God, now and forever. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment