The Sadducees did not believe that people would rise to life after death. So some of them came to Jesus and said:
“Teacher, Moses wrote that if a married man dies and has no children, his brother should marry the widow. Their first son would then be thought of as the son of the dead brother. There were once seven brothers. The first one married, but died without having any children. The second one married his brother’s widow, and he also died without having any children. The same thing happened to the third one. Finally, all seven brothers married that woman and died without having any children. At last the woman died. When God raises people from death, whose wife will this woman be? All seven brothers had married her”.
Jesus answered:
“The people in this world get married. But in the future world no one who is worthy to rise from death will either marry or die. They will be like the angels and will be God’s children, because they have been raised to life.
In the story about the burning bush, Moses clearly shows that people will live again – he said, The Lord is the God worshiped by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. So the Lord isn’t the God of the dead, but of the living. This means that everyone is alive as far as God is concerned.”
Such challenges were common in the synagogues as the Jews debated the words of the Torah. They would justify their stance claiming the name of Moses and so it would begin. This is a convoluted challenge by a group of people who do not even believe in an afterlife. So this question is simply meant to confuse matters; Jesus’ answer seems to confuse matters even more.
We may be disturbed by the idea that we won’t be spending eternity with those that we love. The Sadducees, in the world they represent, are not talking about a loving relationship, but dutiful ownership. The widow is passed from one to another as property; a legal obligation to avoid being abandoned to poverty. Whose property will she be in the afterlife?
If Jesus takes this challenge at all seriously it is only to address this one failing of humanity – the failure to love others as we love ourselves; to make caring for others an obligation rather than a privilege. In his reply, Jesus assures those whose lives are not their own that life in God will be a life of eternal and loving freedom.
Luke 20 27–38 The Sadducees did not believe that people would rise to life after death. So some of them came to Jesus and said: “Teacher, Moses wrote that if a married man dies and has no children, his brother should marry the widow. Their first son would then be thought ofRead More →
MASS & SERVICE TIMES Saturday 4th November 4:45pm – Sacrament of Reconciliation 5:15pm – Bernard Cannon RIP Sunday 5th November – 31st SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (CYCLE A) 9;30am – Jimmy O’Mara RIP 11:00am – People of the Parish Monday 6th November 9:30am – Mass – Hugh Duffy (Sick) 7:30pm – Scripture Group Tuesday 7th November 9:30amRead More →
Matthew 23 1-12 Now Jesus turned to address his disciples, along with the crowd that had gathered with them. “The religion scholars and Pharisees are competent teachers in God’s Law. You won’t go wrong in following their teachings on Moses. But be careful about following them. They talk a good line, but theyRead More →
MASS & SERVICE TIMES Saturday 28th October 4:45pm – Sacrament of Reconciliation 5:15pm – John Payne Jnr. RIP Sunday 29th October – 30th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (CYCLE A) 9;30am – People of the Parish 11:00am – Pat Snape (sick) Monday 30th October 9:30am – Service of Word and Communion Tuesday 31st October 6:00pm – Service ofRead More →
Luke 18 9 – 14 Jesus told a story to some people who thought they were better than others and who looked down on everyone else: Two men went into the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood over by himself and prayed,Read More →
MASS & SERVICE TIMES Saturday 21st October 4:45pm – Sacrament of Reconciliation 5:15pm – Kathleen Harrison RIP Sunday 22nd October – 29th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (CYCLE A) WORLD MISSION SUNDAY 9;30am – People of the Parish 11:00am – Private Intention Monday 23rd October 9:30am – Mass – Hugh Duffy (Sick) 7:30pm – Scripture Group Tuesday 24th Read More →
Matthew 22 15-21 That’s when the Pharisees plotted a way to trap him into saying something damaging. They sent their disciples, with a few of Herod’s followers mixed in, to ask, “Teacher, we know you have integrity, teach the way of God accurately, are indifferent to popular opinion, and don’t pander to your students.Read More →
MASS & SERVICE TIMES Saturday 14th October 4:45pm – Sacrament of Reconciliation 5:15pm – Davy Benton RIP Sunday 15th October – 28th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (CYCLE A) 9;30am – People of the Parish 11:00am – Gloria’s Parents & Brother RIP Monday 16th October 9:30am – Service of Word and Communion Tuesday 17th October 9:30am – MassRead More →
Matthew 22 1-14 Jesus responded by telling still more stories. “God’s kingdom,” he said, “is like a king who threw a wedding banquet for his son. He sent out servants to call in all the invited guests. And they wouldn’t come! “He sent out another round of servants, instructing them to tell the guests,Read More →
MASS & SERVICE TIMES Saturday 7th October 4:45pm – Sacrament of Reconciliation 5:15pm – Maureen Lister RIP Sunday 8th October – 27th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (CYCLE A) 9;30am – People of the Parish 11:00am – Victims of Religious persecution Monday 9th October 11;00am – Requiem Mass – Mary Hooker RIP 7:30pm – Scripture Group Tuesday 10th Read More →
St Joseph’s RC Church, Woodford Lane, Winsford, CW7 2JS - Diocese of Shrewsbury - Registered Charity No 234025