There is always some kind of longing in us. Essentially, it is a longing for happiness and contentment.
So when there are problems at work, we long for solutions and to be free from trouble so that we can be productive and effective at work.
When there are problems at home, then we long for peace and harmony in the family.
When we have health problems, then we will surely long for a cure and hope to be well again.
So as long as we are alive, we will have problems and there will always be a longing for happiness and peace and contentment.
But when life comes to an end, will there be more longings? Physically and emotionally there may be no more longings. But what about spiritually?
For the dead man in the gospel passage, he may not have any physical or emotional longings. But his soul may have a longing.
His soul may be longing to see his Creator and Saviour. And in this case it was the Creator and Saviour in the person of Jesus who came to fulfill his soul's longings and even to give him back his life so that he could continue to take care of his mother.
In life we will have our longings. But may we see in the longings of our life our deepest longing, and that is our longing for Jesus our Saviour.
As in life and so in death, may our longing be for Jesus who will fulfill all our other longings.