The best answers inspire more questions. When we come to grips on one part of reality, truth invites us to seek more truth, assuming, of course, that we were seeking truth to begin with. When the Sadducees receive Jesus’ answer to their question on the Resurrection, they acknowledge that He spoke the truth, but left it at that. Once their conversation was over, “they no longer dared to ask Him anything” (Lk. 20:40). They did not really want truth, but to be right. Deprived of this, they had no more questions.
The Sadducees reaction can serve as a useful standard as we examine our own consciences. When we make inquiry, are we delighted to learn the truth? Does truth inspire us to ask more questions about this endlessly fascinating reality we find ourselves in? Or, do we walk away in stoic silence, disappointed that we could not claim we were right? Given that Jesus identifies Himself as “the Truth,” how we approach truth is no idle matter. If we love being right more than truth, we love being right more than Jesus. Avoid the error of the Sadducees. Love the truth, love Jesus, keep on talking to Him.