God of the Living

Some Sadducees, those who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus and asked him a question, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no children, the man shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. Now there were seven brothers; the first married, and died childless; then the second and the third married her, and so in the same way all seven died childless. Finally the woman also died. In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had married her.” Jesus said to them, “Those who belong to this age marry and are given in marriage; but those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. Indeed they cannot die anymore, because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection. And the fact that the dead are raised Moses himself showed, in the story about the bush, where he speaks of the Lord as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive.” Then some of the scribes answered, “Teacher, you have spoken well.” For they no longer dared to ask him another question. Luke 20:27-40

Creator God, source of all life

you love all of your creation

breathing your spirit into all people

tender and kind to all nations.

We are sorely tested and confused

the world would have us divide

finding enemies on every corner

passing judgement on every difference.

You met the testing with stories

you told how the ancestors are alive

and silenced those who would trap you

helping us to know you even now.

Help us to be your faithful followers

seeing your beauty in every face

rejoicing in the blessings of all people

living your love in this world. Amen.