Together Forever?
Do you ever wonder if love will last?
Teacher, Moses wrote for us that "if a man's brother dies, leaving a wife but no child, the man shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother." There were seven brothers; the first married and, when he died, left no children; and the second married her and died, leaving no children; and the third likewise; none of the seven left children. Last of all the woman herself died. In the resurrection whose wife will she be? For the seven had married her.'- Mark 12:19-23
In this reading from Mark, Jesus is confronted by the Sadducees who dud not believe in the resurrection and was asked a convoluted question about life after death and marriage.
Mark sets it up as a trap to try to trick him, but the question itself has interesting consequences for us who like to believe our love will endure forever.
Will we still be together when we die?
Jesus responds telling then we will not be given in marriage but will be like angels.
That could be upsetting for those of us who long to be together forever.
I like to think that the connections we have to each other survive beyond death, that grandma is still watching over me, that Mom and Dad are reunited.
Is it wrong to want to believe that?
Perhaps it is just because that is the way I see the world; it is what I know. When I rise in the next life, I will know something different.
All the more reason, I think, to make the most of this life, to be the best husband, father, grandfather, friend I can be and to make the memories that will live forever in those who know me and love me.
As we get older, time ceases to be a friend. Let's not waste any of it while we can make it matter most.
More to come...