Lent 2023 – Day 34 – Luke 20 v 27-47

Welcome to our Daily reflections for Lent.

We have provided a number of ways of using these reflections.

• You can listen to it in podcast style by clicking on the first audio file. (approx 18 minutes);
• You can listen to the reflection and the prayers with a shortened length for personal prayer (approx 6 minutes);
• You can read your own version of the Bible and then listen to the reflection, play the hymn in the embedded YouTube clip and then listen to the prayer section;
• You can choose to just read through it and ignore the audio files; or
• any combination of the above.

However you choose to use them we hope you will find them helpful and thought provoking.

Full Audio of today’s reflection.

Read Luke Chapter 20 verses 27-47 In your own preferred version. The audio uses the NIV.

Link to the Bible Gateway NIV version (Opens in a new tab)

Audio of reflection

“He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”

One thing that, as humans, we have an unquenchable desire for, is to maintain what we are comfortable with. So perhaps it is understandable that we try to think of and describe heaven on the basis of our current human experience.Today’s passage is a difficult one for us. There is an ideal of being re-united with loved ones. Today’s refection is not long enough to go into the numerous difficulties this might pose. About how old we might be, illnesses we might have had, multiple marriages, difficult and abusive relationships and so on. Of course, the Sadducees in this story were trying to trick Jesus but Jesus’ reply gives us a small glimpse of heaven when he says, heaven is not like our lives today.

Many years ago when the children were small we holidayed in Scotland. One day we decided to visit a very small aircraft museum. As we were walking around Stephen nodded at a boy walking past and gave the smallest utterance of acknowledgement. It turned our to be a boy from his class at school.

I have no idea what heaven will be like and if anyone tells you that they do they are probably fibbing. I do, however, believe that it will be a place of ultimate worship. A place where we will be so engaged in giving glory to God that those who share it with us be they family, friend or stranger will be just a part of that magnificent whole. If we recognise each other that will of course be brilliant but I do not think that will matter in the same way as it does to us in our earthly lives. Perhaps it will be like Stephen on that day in Scotland,we will acknowledge each other and return to praising God together for eternity.

Hymn: Singing the Faith –  322 “I will sing the wondrous story”

Contemplation Words

“He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”

Let us pray together.

Contemplative Prayer

Think of the words in order to understand context and meaning, Feel the meaning of the words with and in your heart, Pray, using the words, for yourself or others. With only a name and without explaining the reasons or pre-defining any answers. Listen for God’s voice in the quiet of your prayers. Pray using your own prayers or one of those which have been prepared below.

Twitter Prayer

Loving God, we praise you for you are truly the God of the living and through your love we are all alive in you. Amen

Full Prayer

Oh, God, we praise you that you are truly the God of the living, and not the dead. We offer you all that we are because you are, our God, and we live only in you.

Help us not to worry about the future and what heaven may be like but to trust your words that there is a place for each of us there with you. Amen.