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Meditation: Luke 20:27-38

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

He is not God of the dead, but of the living. (Luke 20:38)

The Gospels are filled with accounts of how Jesus’ enemies tried to trap him instead of believing in him. This is especially true in chapter twenty of Luke’s Gospel. First, some Pharisees questioned Jesus’ authority to cleanse the Temple and to teach in it (Luke 20:1-8). Later, they sent surrogates to ask Jesus about taxation (20:20-26).

Then comes today’s Gospel reading, which tells how some Sadducees tried to ensnare Jesus in a trap of their own devising. They tell a story about a woman who has been married and widowed seven times. But they’re not really interested in Jesus’ views on marriage. They just want to get him to admit that there is no resurrection after death. But Jesus elevates the conversation by making a distinction between “this age” and “the coming age” (Luke 20:34, 35).

“This age” is God’s wonderful and good creation—a good world darkened by the shadows of sin and temptation. Scripture calls it a “present evil age” (Galatians 1:4) under the influence of Satan, the “ruler of this world” (John 12:31). By contrast, “the coming age” is heaven.

Now, the gospel teaches us that Jesus has set us free from the shadows of “this age,” but our freedom is closely linked to the choices we make. The devil is always on the prowl, trying to trap us. But God wants to protect us from these traps and teach us how to resist them so that Satan will flee (James 4:7). Jesus taught that there is indeed a resurrection after death. He taught that those who “are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age” will rise at the end.

Let’s not be duped like Jesus’ enemies, who were always trying to tell him what was right and wrong. Instead, let’s be open to his word and his work in our lives. That’s the best way to live in this present age—with our eyes on the age to come.

“Jesus, you have set us free. As I live in ‘this age,’ please help me keep my sights on ‘that age,’ which is to come.”

2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14; Psalm 17:1, 5-6, 8, 15; 2 Thessalonians 2:16–3:5

Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion

(2 Maccabees 7:1-2,9-14; Psalm 17:1,5-6,8,15; 2 Thessalonians 2: 16-3:5; Luke 20:27-38)

1. The Book of Maccabees tells the moving story of seven brothers and their mother who suffered torture and death rather than disobey one of God’s laws. Their courage came from their belief that “the King of the world will raise us up to live again forever.” In what way does your belief in the resurrection of believers to eternal life give you courage to stand up for your faith?

2. The responsorial psalm presents us with an unshakeable faith that God will hear us when we cry out to him in a time of need. We also have the image of God hiding us in the shadow of his “wings”. During the day how often do you turn to God your Father or Jesus when facing difficulties? What steps can you take during the day to remind yourself to turn to him, even if it is for a few seconds?

3. In the second reading, St. Paul promises the Thessalonians that God will “encourage,” “strengthen,” “guard,” and “direct” them, no matter what the circumstances. How do you stay strong in your faith and these promises of God when facing tough situations? Can you give an example from your own life when God did indeed encourage, strengthen, guard, and direct you in the midst of a difficult trial?

4. In the Gospel reading, the Sadducees, who do not believe in an afterlife, pose a story to Jesus to trap him. Jesus, of course, confounds them with the clarity of his answer regarding heaven and the resurrection of the dead. What do you think heaven will be like? Do you believe that through prayer and Scripture reading, you can gain some insights from God on the nature of heaven?

5. The Gospel and the meditation describe the differences between “this age” and “the coming age.” How would you describe these differences? What steps can you take to remind yourself daily that God’s plan, and the real purpose for your life, is to spend eternity with him in “the coming age”?

6. In the meditation, we hear these words: “Now, the gospel teaches us that Jesus has set us free from the shadows of ‘this age,’ but our freedom is closely linked to the choices we make. The devil is always on the prowl, trying to trap us. But God wants to protect us from these traps and teach us how to resist them so that Satan will flee (James 4:7).” What are the ways you allow God to “protect” you and “teach” you? What additional steps can you take to “be open to his word and his work” in your life?

7. Take some time now to pray and ask the Lord for the grace to keep “our eyes on the age to come” and not just on “this age.” Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as a starting point.

A Christian Pilgrim

JESUS ASSURES US OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY

(Biblical reflection on the 32^nd Ordinary Sunday [Year C] – November 10, 2013)

Gospel Reading: Luke 20:27-38

First Reading: 2Maccabees 7:1-2,9-14; Psalms: Psalm 17:1,5-6,8,15; Second Reading: 2Thessalonians 2:16-3:5

Scripture Text:

There came to Him some Sadducees, those who say that there is no resurrection, and they asked Him a question, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, having a wife but no children, the man must take the wife and raise up children for his brother. Now there were seven brothers; the first took a wife, and died without children; and the second and the third took her, and likewise all seven left no children and died. Afterward the woman also died. In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had her as wife.

And Jesus said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage; but those who are accounted worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, for they cannot die any more, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. Now He is not God of the dead, but of the living; for all live to Him.” (Luke 20:27-38 RSV)

The ancient Greeks, such as Plato, had a clearer idea of personal immortality than the Israelites did. The Book of Wisdom, written about 50 B.C., contains the Old Testament’s most vivid concepts of the future life; not surprisingly, this originated from a strong Greek influence.

The hazy Hebrew notion of the afterlife centered around the word “Sheol”, meaning the “the grave”. This was a vague and shadowy type of survival, a very unappealing one. It Was much better to live on earth than in Sheol, which explains why the Hebrews interpreted a short life as a punishment and a long life as a reward from God.

Under Greek and Persian influence, Pharisees professed belief in the future life and in the resurrection of the body. The Sadducees, a more conservative group, believed in neither. Jesus basically agreed with the Pharisees on this question. The Sadducees took exception to this and thus set the scene for the confrontation in today’s Gospel. They tried to negate the possibility of resurrection and deflate the teaching of Jesus by posing the example of a woman who had been married to seven brothers. “At the resurrection of the dead,” they gleefully inquired, “which one will be her husband ……?” Jesus simply restated His teaching on the resurrection, and then explained that life in eternity would be different and that such problems would not arise. Our Lord’s answer was good, but His best answer would come later with His own personal resurrection from the grave.

In all ages and places, Christians have professed and proclaimed their belief in the immortality of the soul and the resurrection of the body. This central truth of our religion is dramatized liturgically at the annual Easter celebration and at every Mass which is offered. It is the message which gives meaning to our funeral liturgies, and is symbolized by the presence of the burning Easter candle. From early times, we as a Church have professed in the creed our belief “in the resurrection of the body and life everlasting.”

As Jesus triumphed over the objections of the Sadducees, we too must triumph over doubt and opposition. We are citizens of both earth and heaven. Death is our sister, our second birthday – our birthday into eternity. Since we are not angels but humans, we are incomplete without our bodies. Jesus therefore assures us that there will be a resurrection of the body. Then we will finally have it all together – forever.

At Mass today, let us lift up our hearts to heaven. Let us gaze upon the beauty of the Lord, and let His glory and His majesty pierce us to the core. After all, He is the ONE who created us to worship Him in the first place!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we are in awe of Your love for us. Continue to reveal to us who You are so that we can become more and more like You. Amen.