Sunday Gospel Reflection, November 10, 2019: The dead will rise...

The dead will rise…

Do you hope for eternal life?

  Even in Jesus’ time, not all Jews believed in life after death, so it is interesting that the Second Book of Maccabees, written well before Christ, contains a story which suggests a clear belief in the resurrection of the body.  When the Hellenist king Antiochus Epiphanes tries to force them to eat pork, one after another, seven brothers state their clear preference to die rather than to transgress the laws of their ancestors, confident in the hope God gives of being raised by him.  While life after death is not guaranteed for the unjust – for you, there will be no resurrection to life, says one of the brothers to his torturers – this family, at least, is confident in God’s promise, knowing what they do in this life is only measurable in heaven; their hope is that connection with the Lord in this world will continue in their connection with the Lord in eternity, for they are drawn to the perfect love of God.  In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus will likewise assure the unbelieving Sadducees of life after death:  the dead will rise, he says, citing Moses.  And Psalm 17 is also reassuring:  Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full.  While not explicitly addressing eternal life, the psalmist expresses his belief that God will hear him, answer him, stand by him:  I in justice shall behold your face.

  Death could not contain Jesus; we are witnesses to the fulfillment of that promise.  We did not witness his resurrection personally, but we are called to believe in what God can do, for all can be gathered into the love of God because God wants all he has made brought into perfect union with him.  Our work is to pray for all, like Jesus, giving them, as Paul tells the Thessalonians, everlasting encouragement and good hope.  In this way, the Word of God may speed forward and be glorified, spreading in the hearts of all people, that they might come to know the love God has for us all.  God draws us to him; we have but to exercise free will in opening our own hearts to his.  May the Lord direct our hearts to the love of God, that we too may behold his face!

This post is based on Fr. Pat’s Scripture class.

Image source:  www.wordclouds.com

Sunday Gospel Reflection, November 6, 2016: He is not God of the dead, but of the living…

 He is not God of the dead, but of the living… 

 So just what is God’s plan for the future? 

   For the Jews living under the reign of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, one’s future was lived through one’s children, who carried the family name from generation to generation.  But in the Second Book of Maccabees, a new understanding of life after death is introduced by the seven sons of a widow who are all slain because they refuse to eat pork in violation of God’s law.  One of them taunts Antiochus by stating that the King of the world will raise us up to live again forever.  In this understanding of God’s plan, the future holds restoration for those who die faithful to covenant.  There is an intimation of this hope for the future in Psalm 17, I in justice shall behold your face:  he is confident that he will see the face of God, confident that justice will come, as well as protection under the shadow of the wings of the Lord.

   In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus likewise presents a new understanding of life after death to the Sadducees of Jerusalem who challenge him with difficult theological questions about the maintenance of human relationships beyond death.  Rather than respond to the Sadducees’ questions directly, Jesus argues for the resurrection of the dead in a state of perfect union, where any distinctions or boundaries between individuals are elided as we enter into perfect union with God:  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.  In the interim, Paul assures the Thessalonians, God has loved us and given us everlasting encouragement.  Paul’s words look to the future as well:  the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. 

   God sent Jesus so that the good news of salvation for all can spread throughout the world, bringing restoration to a world divided, uniting all people in perfect union with God.  In the interim, may the Lord direct our hearts to the love of God and the endurance of Christ – and may we continue to be God’s love revealed to the world, fulfilling a plan whose promise resounds with that love.

This post is based on Fr. Pat’s Scripture class.

Image source:  Wordle