Haggai 1: 15b-2:9
Our reading from Haggai acknowledges the greatness of Solomon’s temple but points out that, although the rebuilt temple cannot recreate that former glory, God is still with God’s people. [1]
That is very relevant to Christchurch as churches rebuild after the earthquake and must face the possibility that a building that was purpose built for a past congregation may not suit the mission of the church in the future. The temple served a civic as well as religious purpose so Haggai might also have something to say about other damaged iconic structures and the need to build a place that enhances people’s lives rather than a theme park for tourists to visit.
Luke 20: 27-38
Bill Loader explains that the Sadducees appear to have been the more culturally sophisticated of the identified movements among Jews at the time. Their followers tended to be among the leading priestly families and the aristocracy. Their approach to scripture was more conservative than that of the Pharisees.[2]
There is little doubt that Jesus, along with the Pharisees, believed in life after death but the Sadducees, as a conservative Jewish religious party, did not.
Sermon
A cartoon that circulates from time to time has Charles Schulz’ Peanuts characters Charlie Brown and Snoopy sitting on a wharf gazing on a sunlit lake. Charlie Brown makes the somewhat philosophical comment ‘Someday we will all die Snoopy’
Snoopy’s profound reply is ‘True, but all the other days we will not’