Responding to Sadducees

Responding to Sadducees
Pentecost 22; Luke 20:27-40
At High School, I was good at debating,
but our arguments there were not heartfelt,
just a mind game where stances were random:
“Yes” or “No” was assigned, not self-chosen.

Now real arguments set my gut seething.
If beliefs are deep seated and fervent,
seems my tongue and my brain lose connection.
If I speak, it is heated and awkward.

It’s far worse if the foe is sarcastic,
starts to mock me and all that I stand for.
I retreat in tight tears and lie sleepless,
still rehearsing ripostes that went missing.

How did Jesus react to this story 
of a woman passed down seven brothers?
After life she was still a possession,
childless shame used to mock resurrection.

His reply dignified her with freedom
from their harsh patriarchal assumptions.
Neither married nor given in marriage,
she’s a daughter of God, like an angel.

Though they claimed that the Torah said nothing
that revealed there might be resurrection,
Jesus offered a new way of seeing
that in God their dead leaders are living.

Holy Spirit, I pray to be Christ-like
if I’m answering arrogant powers,
not responding with hurtful intention,
but undaunted, with eloquent reason.
	Barbara Messner 5/11/2025