Bible
Alive Homily
7
November • Sunday
Luke
20:27-38
Some
years ago a young mother was grieving over the tragic loss of her three year-old
daughter. The tragedy was compounded by the fact that the child was seriously
disabled and could do little on her own. Her mother literally carried her
everywhere. In order to find some comfort, she asked a priest what heaven would
be like and whether, at the end of time, her daughter would still recognize her
as her mother. It turned out that Jesus' words to the Sadducees in today's
reading had disturbed the mother and she wondered what it meant that there was
no marriage in heaven. Would our earthly relationships still continue in
heaven?
The
priest at first did not know how to answer. He did not want to give an answer
that was based on wishful thinking, nor did he want to cause doubts in the
woman's mind.
Then, perhaps by a moment of grace,
he asked her a question. He asked her if she thought
that in heaven Jesus knew Mary as his own mother.
The young mother had no doubts about that, so the priest answered:
'I cannot imagine that it would be any different for you and your daughter.'
Then, perhaps by a moment of grace,
he asked her a question. He asked her if she thought
that in heaven Jesus knew Mary as his own mother.
The young mother had no doubts about that, so the priest answered:
'I cannot imagine that it would be any different for you and your daughter.'
Perhaps
we all have questions about what heaven will be like. Sometimes we have certain
fears. Surely one concerns the thought of eternity. The question hovers at the
back of our minds: will we get bored with heaven? Eternity is a concept that is
impossible for us to grasp.
But
there is one experience on earth of which it is impossible for us ever to tire.
To love and to be loved is the universal longing of all of humanity. In spite
of so many failures in love and in marriage, we also sense that love is the one
thing that can truly fulfil us. It is
the power of sin, present in the world and in our lives, that threatens to
disrupt our deep desire to love and to be loved.
In
his answer to the Sadducees, Jesus says that in the resurrection we shall be
like the angels and can no longer die. The implication is that there will be no
more sin and therefore, there will be nothing to impede our loving and being
loved. We shall be children of God perfectly fulfilled by God's love for us and
our love for him.
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