(Click link to read passage)
Reflection:
It is possible to be so heavenly-minded that you are no earthly good.
In the passage linked above, Jesus has an interaction with some folks who fit this description. They propose a heavenly thought experiment – if someone is married multiple times in this life, who will they be married to in heaven?
Jesus rejects even the premise of their question, and then utters a sentence that, if we really listen, can radically alter the way we approach this thing we call Christianity:
“He is God, not of the dead, but of the living…”
Maybe, Christianity is about God’s presence in THIS life…& NOT just about how to get into heaven.
Maybe, the Church is a dynamic, lively community of everyday people seeking peace, deep joy, and guidance…& NOT just a salvation store.
Maybe, Baptism is an event that sets the tone for an entire life of counter-cultural love…& NOT just something you do to “hedge your bet” if this Jesus gig turns out to be real.
Maybe this living, breathing, everyday, real-world God calls us to engage the living, breathing, everyday, hurting world!
In the next week, we will be living out the story that bears the deepest witness to this God-of-the-Living. We will hear about Jesus’ passion, compassion, and mission. We will sing our praises once again – not to a dead hero, but to a living Lord!
Prayer: God of the living, so often we reduce your message to a way into heaven. Help us to see that you care about our future – but that you also care about our present. Show us the ways we can care about this world in a way that reflects your priorities. Amen.
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