A Positively Poetic Priest

"So make up your minds NOT to prepare your defense in advance;  for I will give you words and a wisdom  that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict."  (Luke 21:5-19) I'll let you into one of my nightmares, because that is exactly what you want right this minute. I am an introvert  and the idea of getting up before a crowd, a judge, even standing here now, without anything prepared to say, is terrifying to me. Down right terrifying. When I was in high school I was terrified of public speaking.  I remember my first public speaking class,  when I wasn't able to complete a short speech  because I thought I was going to throw up.  At the time I knew I wanted to become a priest  and I knew from watching the priests of the church I went to,  that I was going to have to speak in public someday  and that I needed to work on it.  I asked God for help  and God provided opportunities and coaches and mentors 

Teacher, "In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be?" Why do they need to know whose wife this poor woman will be? Hasn't she gone through enough hassle already? Seven husbands??? Give the poor woman a break! Jesus was such a storyteller its not often we hear him going through the paces with  legal logistical argumentative proofs. However, if you remember your ancient Greek rhetoric at all (which I totally understand if you don't...) you'll notice what the Sadducees are doing  and how Jesus responds in kind. The Sadducees who speak to Jesus are using a case study to prove that there is no resurrection. The Sadducees were a group who didn't believe in resurrection, they didn't believe in an afterlife. Yet, they know Jesus does believe in resurrection, he keeps teaching and preaching about the kingdom of God. So they decide to take him on in some old style debating.  They offer a proof that