The WORD today reminds me of God’s infinite wisdom.
There are prestigious award giving bodies in existence today. These institutions look for greatness before awarding people - either whose work has impacted a lot of people, or those who have discovered great things. We look up especially to those who discover things and answers that impact and help a lot of people. In the gospel, we see something similar happening to Jesus.
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, that’s what was supposed to happen. That situation does not make sense. They also want to discredit Jesus from the increasing number of people who are beginning to take notice of him. They want to embarrass and humiliate Jesus. They thought they had Jesus cornered because they quoted the law which Jesus would not go against. They thought Jesus would not know the answer to their question, and people would see they they are smarter than Jesus. And they could prove the point that there really is no resurrection. We then see how great God is.
God's wisdom is infinite.
We see and realize that Jesus is really God in human form. We see his wisdom by his answer, answer that others could not think of or could not explain. 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. We will be spiritual beings. We will not be bound by time and space. We will not have the human relationships we had here on earth. Yes there will be love, as God is love, but not earthly love.
Just as the Sadducees quoted Moses in their question, to prove his point and his wisdom, Jesus also quoted Moses in explaining and answering them. Some people believed at that time that immortality was connected with the existence of the physical body. Thus, the Sadducees 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. This means He is the Present and living God. And that these people are alive, that they are resurrected, thus the present tense. God did not say I WAS the God. I AM the God means HE is still alive until now, that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are also alive in their resurrection until now, and that he is the same God who guided Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
God is a God of the living, not of the dead. And he is alive until now.
We see how infinite God's wisdom is. In seemingly impossible situations, Jesus not not escapes, but glorifies God. He corrected the wrong notion of the sadducees, and explained how powerful and loving God is
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. And that just as Jesus escaped the trap set by the Sadducees, we too can experience that if we remain close to God and bask in his word, presence and glory.
The infinite wisdom of God also transcends other aspects of our lives. His wisdom is infinite. His plans are always perfect. We may have a lot of concerns. We may feel the world is treating us unfairly. We may feel frustrated by the actions and decisions of people in authority and power. We may feel that they hinder God’s plans. But God is powerful and infinitely wise. He knows what he is doing and what he is allowing to happen. Things may not look good, but it does not mean it will hinder His perfect plans. Wr just need to have faith.
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 for the reminder. Thank you that you are a living God. Thank you that you are always with me during times of troubles and persecution. Lord, sorry for the times I forget. Sorry for doubting you. Help me remember your love and greatness 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. Help me build and work on my relationship with you. And I ask that you use me to make your love more real and more alive to others. Amen.
Blessed Weekend!
In Christ,
-g-
November 21, 2020
Saturday of Week 33; Presentation of Mary
FIRST READING
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
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
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
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.
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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