Psalm 145:1-5, 17-21, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17, and Luke 20:27-38
I recently read a book titled “Creating a Culture of Invitation in Your Church.” I went to a local church pastor’s meeting, and they lent me that book. I ordered the book because I thought it was meaningful. When this book arrives, I hope you read it from the bookshelf in the Centennial Room. There are times when it’s not comfortable to invite friends or family to church. The author analyzes and explains several reasons why people do not invite their acquaintances to church. Moreover, today, more people than in the past believe that salvation can be found outside of religion. Also, many people think that they don’t need to go to church because they are spiritual, even though they are not religious. Many people do not believe in heaven, hell, or resurrection. Some argue that heaven and hell are simply inventions of the 13th-century Italian writer Dante Alighieri in his book “The Divine Comedy.” Are the concepts of heaven, hell, and resurrection really just human creations?
Today, the Sadducees appear in the Gospel of Luke. They denied the existence of resurrection. So, they discussed allowing the younger brothers to marry the older brother’s wife and continue the family line when the older brother died, according to the Law of Moses. If there is a resurrection, then whose wife will she be when she is resurrected? At first glance, it seems like a very reasonable question. But this [rӕʃənǽləti]rationality is not suitable for conversations about worlds of different dimensions. Because what we think is rational now may not be rational in other cultures and times. For example, when we look at dishwashing culture, Australia and Canada are very different, even though they are both Commonwealth countries. In Australia, a common practice is to soak dishes in detergent-dissolved in water, then take them out and dry them on a drying rack without rinsing. It is common practice to finish by wiping with a towel after the foam has dried to some extent, and this is a reasonable practice in Australia. Conversely, this approach is not sensible in Canada. Most of us have a dishwasher and prefer to use it. I love my dishwasher too. These differences in perception stem from differences in awareness of water conservation and detergent residue. In this way, the differences in perception and rationality vary from era to era and region to region.
The rationality of the Sadducees was thus inadequate in its perception of the times and circumstances. So, there was a lack of knowledge and understanding of the world after death. The world in which the children of the resurrected Lord live is different from the world we live in today. Jesus explains to them that there will be no marriage or death, and that there will be no such needs or desires. Furthermore, verse 38 explains as follows: “He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.” In this way, the world after death goes beyond the limits of our perception. And God is the God of all the living, and before God, “All are alive.”
These are truly mysterious words. I apply this to my life: I don’t remember the date my great-grandfather died, but I commemorate the death of Jesus. I don’t know if my great-grandfather is resurrected or in heaven, but I celebrate the resurrection of Jesus every year. I do not commemorate the death and resurrection of my great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother, who lived a hundred years ago. But I remember Jesus who died and was resurrected two thousand years ago. And through that act of remembering, I believe in the resurrection of Jesus. Also, the resurrected Jesus exists in my heart now.
Likewise, the Canadian armed forces have played a very significant role in peacekeeping operations, including during World War I, World War II and the Korean War. In this matter, the veteran members of our church responded with noble sacrifice. We will remember those names and call them later. They are with God now, but they live on in our consciousness because we remember them. They will remain in our memories as long as our church exists. Memories like this will be passed down through generations. Furthermore, it will be resurrected with living meaning for our descendants. Through their dedication and sacrifice, we have gained democracy and religious freedom. I hope that God will hear their sincere prayers and cries, and that, like David. God will protect them and use Canada for His ministries.