Marriage, Resurrection and What’s Really Important

Text: Matthew 22:23-33

Reflection and Question: Jesus’ answer to a trick question from some Sadducees — conservative priests who were trying to trap Jesus into denying resurrection — is a consolation to some GLBT Christians I know. Although some people in the church refuse to recognize their relationships as marriage, Jesus’ answer here suggests that marriage is not central to Christian faith. Nor is resurrection, as Jesus insists that God “is not God of the dead but of the living.” This teaching astounds the people, silences the Sadducees and challenges us all to live more faithfully every day. How does this passage console you?

Prayer: As You are God of the living, dear Christ, bless us with true understanding of Your Word so that we all may become like angels at the resurrection and, more than that, so we may live today as You desire us to. Amen.

This meditation is based on the Daily Lectionary Year 2 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993).