What Kind of Question is That???

Yesterday's Gospel goes into my "What, are you nuts???" column.

In Luke 20:27-38, Jesus is asked by the Pharisees about the resurrection, more particularly, what the married relationship would be in the eternal life, and they posit the situation of a widow who marries seven brothers in succession and remains childless. The Pharisees want to know whose wife is she?

Now, if someone had asked me this question, I would have rolled my eyes and asked, "What are you nuts???" Fortunately, Jesus responded with a bit more grace and tact. He tells his detractors that it doesn't matter in the new life after the resurrection, for our states are not earthly. There is no marriage, no earthly rules or norms. All are like angels and children of God. The God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob is the God of the living, not the dead, for to God all are living.

Perhaps Jesus is saying that the one relationship we should hold dear is our relationship with God.

In our human lives, relationships are important. They sustain us, support us, in one sense, keep us going. These relationships might be of friends, not just family, our connection with pets. But what are these compared to the relationship we nurture and build with God? Again, they are very important, but without our relationship with God, I believe they can be stagnant, for where but the love given to us by God do we find the strength and courage to love?

Go in peace, to love and serve the Lord,

Ellen+