Readings:
Apocalypse 11:4-12
Psalm 144:1-2,9-10
Luke 20:27-40
God’s word is the most important ingredient in your journey of faith, morals and salvation. I say this because we are often guided by ideas that run contrary to our Christian faith and they have very nasty consequences. Jesus is confronted by one of such ideas; that of levirate marriage. This marriage system prescribes that a widow should marry her late husband’s brother to raise children for the deceased. The Sadducees who did not believe in the resurrection of the dead brought a hypothetical situation to Jesus. What if the widow marries all six brothers of a deceased man and none was able to father a child with her, whose wife will she be at the resurrection? This cultural practice exists in different parts of the world, taking different forms. Some use it as a measure to curb promiscuity for the widow, others use it to entrench a false patriarchal system.
Jesus simply replied: ‘The children of this world take wives and husbands, but those who are judged worthy of a place in the other world and in the resurrection from the dead do not marry because they can no longer die, for they are the same as the angels, and being children of the resurrection they are sons of God (Luke 20:34,35). There are two kinds of people: the “children of this world” and the “children of the resurrection.”
The children of the resurrection have a distinct way of thinking:
Marriage is for this world. If a person is widowed, the best thing is to either remain celibate or remarry.
Children are goods in marriage and for this world. No one will be denied admission into heaven because they never bore children.
Your mentality to life has to change: “Blessed are those who, with a noble and generous heart, take the word of God to themselves and yield a harvest through their perseverance” (Luke 8:15). Allow God’s word to shape you into a noble and generous person.
Restricting yourself to a worldly mentality prevents you from seeing beyond the temporary nature of your earthly assignment.
Life’s purpose is summarised into five goals: centring our lives on God (worship), learning to love God's family (communion), cultivating spiritual maturity (discipleship), contributing something back (ministry), and telling others about God's love (evangelisation/witnessing). By these actions, we build the foundation for a fulfilling life and eternity.
JUDE-MARY OWOH
To surrender your life to Christ, say this prayer aloud. “Father, I acknowledge my sin against You. I repent and ask for forgiveness, in the name of Jesus. I surrender to the Lordship of Jesus. By the power of Your Holy Spirit, take control of my heart and lead me in Your path of righteousness. Thank you, Lord.”
If you said the prayer, Congratulations! Prayerfully look for a living church and meet the resident reverend, pastor or priest.
Prayer:
Lord, fix my gaze on You and on serving You. Give me the courage and strength to serve You wherever You call me to serve. I consecrate my singleness to You. I offer my marriage to You. I offer my work as a parent, guardian or professional to You. In good and bad times, help me see that You perfect all things for the best. Amen.
I am a child of the resurrection. God bless and sustain me; watch over me and protect me; Heal my brokenness and restore my good fortune through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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