Will my body look old in this? Luke 20:27-38

This Sunday's Gospel is difficult. The Sadducees, are trying to trap Jesus with questions about resurrection, even though they did not believe in resurrection. They are specifically concerned with childless women marrying their brother-in-laws to keep the deceased husbands name alive. Their case-study is slightly absurd and exaggerated. A situation where women can be ‘given’ and owned will not exist in the next life, nor will any other instances of slavery or the realities of this world. In a place of peace, justice and freedom, people are not ‘owned’ or ‘given’. We should not be too preoccupied with questions like theirs: ‘Whose wife will she be?’ or ‘Will I look old?’ ‘Will I have a body?’ We can trust in God.

We could interpret ‘taking wives and husbands’ as the many projects, titles, schemes we use to promote our own interests as ‘children of this world’. ‘Children of the resurrection’ don’t do this. They make huge sacrifices for people they work with, whether on the margins, for the liberation of people around them and those who are oppressed in any way. They ‘cannot die’ even though they can be condemned by society. You might recall someone who has passed away, but who is very much alive because of their influence on people, their generosity and kindness and the difference they made to those around them. They are ‘children of the resurrection’.

“You were born a child of light’s wonderful secret— you return to the beauty you have always been.” ― Aberjhani,.