This Sunday - November 9th

22nd Sunday after Pentecost

Job 19:23-27a ~ Psalm 17:1-9 ~ 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17 ~ Luke 20:27-38

Read onlineA little bit of instruction on how our readings are arranged. The Old Testament reading is always (almost always) ment to connect to the Gospel reading. The second reading sometimes relates (but not always during the Season after Pentecost). That means we can use the Old Testament reading to get a clue about the Gospel reading. 

This week the Old Testament reading from Job helps us realize that the Gospel reading is not really about marriage, but rather about resurrection and life. So don’t get hung up on what either the Sadducees or Jesus says about marriage, that’s not the point. Instead, what both groups are talking about is how life, particularly the afterlife, works. The Sadducees read the Torah and concluded that there was no afterlife, dead is dead. Jesus says that they missed the point, life will be different but continue. 

Often times when we think about the afterlife, we rely on our experience in this life (or on Hollywood movies) to shape what we think. The Bible gives us scant information about what things will be really like. Pearly gates and golden streets? Maybe, but more likely those are metaphors. 

Perhaps the best description that we can have about what it will be like is Paul’s comments in Romans 8:38-39 that nothing “in all of creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” In other words, we may not know what it will be like, but we do know that we will be with God.After reading the scriptures for this day, discuss the following questions with someone else:

1. What is your reaction to the Gospel reading today? do you find it comforting, challenging, confusing?

2. What gives you comfort when you think of the afterlife? What worries you?