Jesus gives two answers to the Sadducees when they ask him about the resurrection. The first answer actually addresses marriage. It speaks of his followers being focused on heavenly realities and aspiring to live as if the next age has dawned already. Thus, being children of the resurrection in the present they do not have to worry about death or what will happen in the future. His second answer directly addresses resurrection. Jesus uses an episode from the first five books, those accepted by the Sadducees, so that there is no sense of him relying on the arguments of the Pharisees which is, perhaps, what they would have expected especially as they refer to him as "Teacher." (Lk 20: 28) This argument takes them by surprize and they are silenced while the scribes are impressed saying: "Teacher you have spoken well." (Lk 20: 39) A question for us is what party of the Jews do I resemble? Do I restrict revelation like the Sadducees? Am I obsessed with the law like the Pharisees? Am I exclusivist like the Essenes? Am I looking for a violent this worldly revolution like the Zealots? Am I stubborn and slow witted like Jesus' disciples? Hopefully, by listening to Jesus I can overcome any of these distortions and come to live the faith fully through sitting at the feet of the Master and acting according to his will in carrying out the mission he has given to the Church.
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