Some Sadducees, those who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus and asked him a question:
“Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no children, the man shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. Now there were seven brothers; the first married and died childless; then the second and the third married her, and so in the same way all seven died childless. Finally, the woman also died. In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had married her.”
Jesus said to them, “Those who belong to this age marry and are given in marriage; but those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. Indeed, they cannot die anymore, because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection. And the fact that the dead are raised Moses himself showed, in the story about the bush, where he speaks of the Lord as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive.”
Then some of the scribes answered, “Teacher, you have spoken well.” For they no longer dared to ask him another question.
Luke 20:27-40 (NRSV)
The Advent Plot Twist
Don’t you just love a great story made even better by ending with an unexpected twist? Then you are in for a treat, thanks to a revelation in today’s Gospel reading from Luke.
Advent is the liturgical season in which we, as Christians, await Jesus’ earthly arrival through his miraculous birth from his mother Mary. The four-week season is penitential because this time of year, leading up to Jesus’ birth, provides us a prime opportunity to reflect on our own lives to make sure we are spiritually ready for his coming.
And talk about a tremendous real life(-saving) story! Jesus, the only-begotten Son of God, volunteered to descend from his heavenly home to Earth to live and teach among us – and ultimately die for us – before his resurrection and eventual ascension back to heaven, changing everything for humankind. That is why, every year during Advent, we await and celebrate Jesus’ promised coming to Earth and all that it means.
But here’s the twist: the anticipation that defines Advent is a two-way street. Thanks to the hope of resurrection, Christ joyfully awaits our arrival in heaven – in due time, of course – as we celebrate his coming to Earth.
Our earthly life is an immeasurable blessing. As long as we “belong to this age,” people marry, are given in marriage and/or do a myriad of other things, enjoying them on Earth to the glory of God. But when we die, our earthly habits and concerns die, too, much to the relief of the seven-time widow in Jesus’ parable!
Better yet, Jesus assures that we will awaken to new life as God’s children of the resurrection. We cannot die again because Jesus vanquished death’s final say by means of his sacrifice. This new life is what awaits us and Jesus, along with angels and the communion of saints in heaven, anticipates our arrival. In due time, of course.
So happy Advent, friends. Let us:
· Enjoy the season, reflecting on our readiness for Christ’s arrival as we also eagerly anticipate it.
· Rejoice in our assurance of heavenly resurrection that the men who questioned Jesus in our reading did not believe. That’s why members of their sect were widely known as sad, you see. (Sadducees, get it?)
· Remember and be grateful for the great Advent plot twist, that Jesus anticipates our rebirth in heaven as eagerly as we celebrate his birth on Earth.
Amen.
The Rev. James S. Tyree
Deacon
St. John’s Episcopal Church, Norman