The WORD
today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/060116.cfm)
reminds me that God is still alive, that He is the God of the
Living.
In the gospel, people were
trying to trap and make fun him. The Sadducees, who do not believe in the
resurrection, presents Jesus with a hypothetical scenario. They want to prove a
point that there really is no resurrection, as opposed to what Jesus was
saying. They wanted to prove that there could possibly be no resurrection where
a woman will be wife of seven men, because based on the law, she married seven
men and died childless. No resurrection because she died childless. Jesus tells
them upfront that they are misled. They did not understand the resurrection. It is NOT a continuation of
life on earth. In the resurrection, we will be like angels.
God is a
God of the living, not of the dead.
It was custom belief that time
that immortality was connected with the existence of the physical body. Thus,
they did not believe that the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob still exist
or are immortal. Jesus quotes the Scripture – I AM the God of Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob. He is the Present and living God. God did not say I WAS the
God. I AM
the God means HE is still alive until now, and that he is the same
God who guided Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. This also shows that because of their
relationship with Him, they are immortal as they live one with the living God.
The
first reading tells us to bear our share of hardship for the Gospel. Yes,
again, God is reminding us that it is not easy serving Him. However, the
living, present and powerful God gives us what we need to serve Him. He gives
us power, love and self-control. He gives us strength to face hardships.
We
are asked to live a holy life not according to our standards and through our
efforts, but through the grace of God. As we remember to live a life based on
God’s grace, we will remember to give him back all the honor, glory and praise.
We strengthen our faith not for our benefit, but for God’s work and his people,
as we allow ourselves to be used by God to proclaim his kingdom.
Do I
believe that God is living and present here in this world? Am I living my life
like he is present and living in me? Do I always focus on Him, his
love and power, as I work to give him glory and serve Him? How can I make God
more alive and living to the people I interact with?
May
we always remember that God is alive, and think of a way we can make him more alive through us
today!
Father
God,
Thank you for
today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another inspiring
message. Thank you that you are a living God. Thank you that you are always
with me during times of troubles and persecution. Help me remember that
especially when times are tough you are there with me even if I don’t always
feel it. May I never forget all that you have done for me and my loved ones.
May I always have that faith in you, and live my life in honor and glory
of you – the one true living God. I ask that you use me to make your love more
real and more alive to others. Amen.
Blessed
day!
In
Christ,
-g-
Ps
See
related reflection:
June 1, 2016
Memorial of Saint Justin, Martyr
Lectionary: 355
Reading 1 2 Tm 1:1-3, 6-12
Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God
for the promise of life in Christ Jesus,
to Timothy, my dear child:
grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father
and Christ Jesus our Lord.
I am grateful to God,
whom I worship with a clear conscience as my ancestors did,
as I remember you constantly in my prayers, night and day.
For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame
the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands.
For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice
but rather of power and love and self-control.
So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord,
nor of me, a prisoner for his sake;
but bear your share of hardship for the Gospel
with the strength that comes from God.
He saved us and called us to a holy life,
not according to our works
but according to his own design
and the grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus before time began,
but now made manifest
through the appearance of our savior Christ Jesus,
who destroyed death and brought life and immortality
to light through the Gospel,
for which I was appointed preacher and Apostle and teacher.
On this account I am suffering these things;
but I am not ashamed,
for I know him in whom I have believed
and am confident that he is able to guard
what has been entrusted to me until that day.
for the promise of life in Christ Jesus,
to Timothy, my dear child:
grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father
and Christ Jesus our Lord.
I am grateful to God,
whom I worship with a clear conscience as my ancestors did,
as I remember you constantly in my prayers, night and day.
For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame
the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands.
For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice
but rather of power and love and self-control.
So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord,
nor of me, a prisoner for his sake;
but bear your share of hardship for the Gospel
with the strength that comes from God.
He saved us and called us to a holy life,
not according to our works
but according to his own design
and the grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus before time began,
but now made manifest
through the appearance of our savior Christ Jesus,
who destroyed death and brought life and immortality
to light through the Gospel,
for which I was appointed preacher and Apostle and teacher.
On this account I am suffering these things;
but I am not ashamed,
for I know him in whom I have believed
and am confident that he is able to guard
what has been entrusted to me until that day.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 123:1b-2ab, 2cdef
R. (1b) To you, O Lord, I lift up my eyes.
To you I lift up my eyes
who are enthroned in heaven.
Behold, as the eyes of servants
are on the hands of their masters.
R. To you, O Lord, I lift up my eyes.
As the eyes of a maid
are on the hands of her mistress,
So are our eyes on the LORD, our God,
till he have pity on us.
R. To you, O Lord, I lift up my eyes.
To you I lift up my eyes
who are enthroned in heaven.
Behold, as the eyes of servants
are on the hands of their masters.
R. To you, O Lord, I lift up my eyes.
As the eyes of a maid
are on the hands of her mistress,
So are our eyes on the LORD, our God,
till he have pity on us.
R. To you, O Lord, I lift up my eyes.
Alleluia Jn 11:25a, 26
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord;
whoever believes in me will never die.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection,
came to Jesus and put this question to him, saying,
“Teacher, Moses wrote for us,
If someone’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no child,
his brother must take the wife
and raise up descendants for his brother.
Now there were seven brothers.
The first married a woman and died, leaving no descendants.
So the second brother married her and died, leaving no descendants,
and the third likewise.
And the seven left no descendants.
Last of all the woman also died.
At the resurrection when they arise whose wife will she be?
For all seven had been married to her.”
Jesus said to them, “Are you not misled
because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?
When they rise from the dead,
they neither marry nor are given in marriage,
but they are like the angels in heaven.
As for the dead being raised,
have you not read in the Book of Moses,
in the passage about the bush, how God told him,
I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac,
and the God of Jacob?
He is not God of the dead but of the living.
I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord;
whoever believes in me will never die.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Mk 12:18-27
came to Jesus and put this question to him, saying,
“Teacher, Moses wrote for us,
If someone’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no child,
his brother must take the wife
and raise up descendants for his brother.
Now there were seven brothers.
The first married a woman and died, leaving no descendants.
So the second brother married her and died, leaving no descendants,
and the third likewise.
And the seven left no descendants.
Last of all the woman also died.
At the resurrection when they arise whose wife will she be?
For all seven had been married to her.”
Jesus said to them, “Are you not misled
because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?
When they rise from the dead,
they neither marry nor are given in marriage,
but they are like the angels in heaven.
As for the dead being raised,
have you not read in the Book of Moses,
in the passage about the bush, how God told him,
I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac,
and the God of Jacob?
He is not God of the dead but of the living.
You are greatly misled.”
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