A reading from the gospel according to Luke 20:27-40

27 Some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection, came forward and put this question to Jesus,
28 saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us, If someone’s brother dies leaving a wife but no child, his brother must take the wife and raise up descendants for his brother.
29 Now there were seven brothers; the first married a woman but died childless.
30 Then the second
31 and the third married her, and likewise all the seven died childless.
32 Finally the woman also died.
33 Now at the resurrection whose wife will that woman be? For all seven had been married to her.”
34 Jesus said to them, “The children of this age marry and remarry;
35 but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age and to the resurrection of the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage.
36 They can no longer die, for they are like angels; and they are the children of God because they are the ones who will rise.
37 That the dead will rise even Moses made known in the passage about the bush, when he called ‘Lord’ the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob;
38 and he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”
39 Some of the scribes said in reply, “Teacher, you have answered well.”
40 And they no longer dared to ask him anything.

Reflection: New Life

The gospel reading above assures us that there is indeed life after death. Jesus tells us that those who are worthy will be like angels who will no longer die but will become alive as children of God. Wow, what a beautiful day on the resurrection of the dead! In the coming age, God will wipe away every tear from our eyes and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away (Revelation 21:4).

In our new life in heaven, the focus will be our joyful relationship with God and thus there will be no more marriage relationships because everyone will be a brother and sister to each other. In fact, there will be no distinction as to gender or nationality. All will be equal before God.

The promise of a new life with God in eternity gives us hope in this age of confusion and suffering. God is in control of everything. He is indeed the God of the living. In the end, good will triumph over evil. Let our eyes be focused on this coming scenario and not on trivial matters such as husbands and wives in the afterlife.

Marrying and remarrying, like eating and drinking, in this present life maybe an important human activity. Yet Jesus wants us not to lose sight of what is important of all – our relationship with God. Otherwise, we might not be part of those who will rise on the last day.

Let us therefore pray that God may continue to instill in our heart that longing to be with Him now and forever.

*****

In the Gospel narrative above, we encounter a fascinating exchange between Jesus and the Sadducees. The Sadducees, who didn’t believe in the resurrection, questioned Jesus, attempting to trap Him with a hypothetical situation about marriage in the afterlife. They asked about a woman who had married multiple brothers (in succession due to death) under the Levirate law and whose wife she would be in the resurrection. Jesus’ response offers a profound lesson on the nature of God, eternal life, and our earthly attachments.

First, Jesus reveals that life after the resurrection is not merely an extension of earthly life but a transformed existence. In heaven, relationships transcend the structures we know on earth. Jesus explains that in the resurrection, people “neither marry nor are given in marriage” because they are “like the angels,” who are sons and daughters of God, the children of the resurrection. This isn’t to diminish earthly relationships; rather, it points to a glorious truth: our ultimate fulfillment will be found in God alone. In heaven, the love we experience with God will be complete and perfect, beyond anything we can imagine in our earthly relationships.

This passage challenges us to shift our perspective from the temporal to the eternal. Often, we focus on the things of this world—relationships, possessions, status—as though they are ultimate. But Jesus reminds us that our time on earth is but a small part of our journey. When we place our ultimate hope and joy in earthly things, we risk losing sight of the incredible future God has prepared.

Jesus’ response also provides hope in the face of death. He reminds the Sadducees that God is not the “God of the dead, but of the living, for to Him all are alive.” This statement is a powerful reminder of the resurrection promise: for those who belong to God, life continues beyond physical death. Our loved ones who have passed away in faith are not lost; they are alive in God’s presence. Death, though painful, is not the end of the story. We are promised eternal life with a God who loves us more deeply than we can comprehend.

This truth invites us to live with a kingdom mindset. If we believe in the promise of resurrection, we can face challenges with courage and hope, knowing that this life is a temporary chapter in our eternal story. We can invest in things that have eternal value: love, faith, generosity, and the pursuit of God’s kingdom. When we live with eternity in mind, we become less anxious about earthly concerns and more passionate about sharing God’s love and truth with others.

In the end, Jesus’ teaching in this passage reminds us to anchor our lives in the reality of God’s eternal promises. Instead of becoming entangled in earthly distractions, we are invited to trust in God’s sovereignty, knowing that our future with Him is secure and beyond anything we could imagine. Embracing this perspective transforms our lives, filling us with hope, purpose, and a longing for the day we will be united with God and all His children in His everlasting kingdom.