The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/112418.cfm)
reminds me that God is still alive and is the God of the living.
In
the gospel, people were trying to trap and make fun Jesus. 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. And no resurrection because he could not possibly
not become the wife of seven men in the afterlife. 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. I Am. 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.
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 weekend. 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. Sorry for forgetting this. Sorry for
forgetting your love and power. 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 Weekend!
In Christ,
-g-
Ps
See related reflection:
November 24, 2018
Memorial of Saint Andrew
Dung-Lac, Priest, and Companions, Martyrs
Lectionary: 502
Lectionary: 502
Reading 1 RV 11:4-12
I,
John, heard a voice from heaven speak to me:
Here are my two witnesses:
These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands
that stand before the Lord of the earth.
If anyone wants to harm them, fire comes out of their mouths
and devours their enemies.
In this way, anyone wanting to harm them is sure to be slain.
They have the power to close up the sky
so that no rain can fall during the time of their prophesying.
They also have power to turn water into blood
and to afflict the earth with any plague as often as they wish.
When they have finished their testimony,
the beast that comes up from the abyss
will wage war against them and conquer them and kill them.
Their corpses will lie in the main street of the great city,
which has the symbolic names “Sodom” and “Egypt,”
where indeed their Lord was crucified.
Those from every people, tribe, tongue, and nation
will gaze on their corpses for three and a half days,
and they will not allow their corpses to be buried.
The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them
and be glad and exchange gifts
because these two prophets tormented the inhabitants of the earth.
But after the three and a half days,
a breath of life from God entered them.
When they stood on their feet, great fear fell on those who saw them.
Then they heard a loud voice from heaven say to them, “Come up here.”
So they went up to heaven in a cloud as their enemies looked on.
Here are my two witnesses:
These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands
that stand before the Lord of the earth.
If anyone wants to harm them, fire comes out of their mouths
and devours their enemies.
In this way, anyone wanting to harm them is sure to be slain.
They have the power to close up the sky
so that no rain can fall during the time of their prophesying.
They also have power to turn water into blood
and to afflict the earth with any plague as often as they wish.
When they have finished their testimony,
the beast that comes up from the abyss
will wage war against them and conquer them and kill them.
Their corpses will lie in the main street of the great city,
which has the symbolic names “Sodom” and “Egypt,”
where indeed their Lord was crucified.
Those from every people, tribe, tongue, and nation
will gaze on their corpses for three and a half days,
and they will not allow their corpses to be buried.
The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them
and be glad and exchange gifts
because these two prophets tormented the inhabitants of the earth.
But after the three and a half days,
a breath of life from God entered them.
When they stood on their feet, great fear fell on those who saw them.
Then they heard a loud voice from heaven say to them, “Come up here.”
So they went up to heaven in a cloud as their enemies looked on.
Responsorial Psalm PS
144:1, 2, 9-10
R.
(1b) Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!
Blessed be the LORD, my rock,
who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for war.
R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!
My mercy and my fortress,
my stronghold, my deliverer,
My shield, in whom I trust,
who subdues my people under me.R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!
O God, I will sing a new song to you;
with a ten stringed lyre I will chant your praise,
You who give victory to kings,
and deliver David, your servant from the evil sword.
R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!
Blessed be the LORD, my rock,
who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for war.
R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!
My mercy and my fortress,
my stronghold, my deliverer,
My shield, in whom I trust,
who subdues my people under me.R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!
O God, I will sing a new song to you;
with a ten stringed lyre I will chant your praise,
You who give victory to kings,
and deliver David, your servant from the evil sword.
R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!
Alleluia SEE 2 TM 1:10
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death
and brought life to light through the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death
and brought life to light through the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel LK
20:27-40
Some
Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection,
came forward and put this question to Jesus, 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 but died childless.
Then the second and the third married her,
and likewise all the seven died childless.
Finally the woman also died.
Now at the resurrection whose wife will that woman be?
For all seven had been married to her.”
Jesus said to them,
“The children of this age marry and remarry;
but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age
and to the resurrection of the dead
neither marry nor are given in marriage.
They can no longer die,
for they are like angels;
and they are the children of God
because they are the ones who will rise.
That the dead will rise
even Moses made known in the passage about the bush,
when he called ‘Lord’
the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob;
and he is not God of the dead, but of the living,
for to him all are alive.”
Some of the scribes said in reply,
“Teacher, you have answered well.”
And they no longer dared to ask him anything.
came forward and put this question to Jesus, 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 but died childless.
Then the second and the third married her,
and likewise all the seven died childless.
Finally the woman also died.
Now at the resurrection whose wife will that woman be?
For all seven had been married to her.”
Jesus said to them,
“The children of this age marry and remarry;
but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age
and to the resurrection of the dead
neither marry nor are given in marriage.
They can no longer die,
for they are like angels;
and they are the children of God
because they are the ones who will rise.
That the dead will rise
even Moses made known in the passage about the bush,
when he called ‘Lord’
the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob;
and he is not God of the dead, but of the living,
for to him all are alive.”
Some of the scribes said in reply,
“Teacher, you have answered well.”
And they no longer dared to ask him anything.
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