Daily Readings - Sun Nov 10 2019
2 Maccabees
1And it happened also that seven brothers, united with their mother, were apprehended and compelled by the king to eat the flesh of swine against divine law, being tormented with scourges and whips2But one of them, who was first, spoke in this way: "What would you ask, or what would you want to learn from us? We are ready to die, rather than to betray the laws that our fathers received from God.7And so, when the first had died in this way, they led in the next one, so as to ridicule him. And when the skin of his head was pulled off with the hair, they asked him if he would eat, instead of being punished throughout the whole body in every limb9And when he had reached his last breath, he spoke in this way: "You, indeed, O most wicked man, are destroying us in this present life. But the King of the world will raise us up, in eternal life at the resurrection, for we die on behalf of his laws.10After this one, the third was ridiculed, and when he was asked, he quickly offered up his tongue, and he resolutely extended his hands11And he said with confidence, "I possess these from heaven, but, because of the laws of God, I now despise them, for I hope to receive them again from him.12So then, the king and those who were with him, wondered at the soul of this youth, because he considered the torments as if they were nothing13And after he had died in this way, they afflicted the fourth with similar tortures14And when he was about to die, he spoke in this way: "It is preferable, being put to death by men, to wait for hope from God, so as to be revived again by him. But the resurrection to life will not be for you
2 Thessalonians
1Concerning other things, brothers, pray for us, so that the Word of God may advance and be glorified, just as it is among you2and so that we may be freed from pertinacious and evil men. For not everyone is faithful3But God is faithful. He will strengthen you, and he will guard you from evil4And we have confidence about you in the Lord, that you are doing, and will continue to do, just as we have instructed5And may the Lord direct your hearts, in the charity of God and with the patience of Christ
Luke
27Now some of the Sadducees, who deny that there is a resurrection, approached him. And they questioned him34And so, Jesus said to them: "The children of this age marry and are given in marriage35Yet truly, those who shall be held worthy of that age, and of the resurrection from the dead, will neither be married, nor take wives36For they can no longer die. For they are equal to the Angels, and they are children of God, since they are children of the resurrection37For in truth, the dead do rise again, as Moses also showed beside the bush, when he called the Lord: ‘The God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.38And so he is not the God of the dead, but of the living. For all are alive to him.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the power of faith, the promise of resurrection, and the hope that sustains us in the face of adversity. In the first reading from 2 Maccabees, we encounter the courageous witness of seven brothers and their mother who endure brutal torture rather than betray their faith. Despite the king’s attempts to break their resolve, they remain steadfast, trusting in God’s promise of eternal life. Their martyrdom is a testament to the enduring strength of faith, even in the face of death. The second reading from 2 Thessalonians offers a message of encouragement, reminding us that God is always faithful and will strengthen us in our trials. It exhorts us to remain steadfast in our commitment to the Gospel and to trust in God’s providence.
In the Gospel, Jesus engages in a debate with the Sadducees, who deny the resurrection. He explains that life after death is not a continuation of this world but a radical transformation. Those who are raised will live in a state akin to the angels, free from the limitations of this earthly existence. Jesus grounds his teaching in Scripture, citing the encounter of Moses with God, who identifies himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—living beings, not the dead. This underscores the truth that God is the God of the living, and the dead will rise again.
These readings are deeply connected, as they all point to the hope of eternal life and the transformative power of faith. The brothers in 2 Maccabees endure suffering because they trust in the resurrection; the Thessalonians are encouraged to remain faithful, knowing God will sustain them; and Jesus teaches that the resurrection is not merely a doctrine but a reality that reshapes our understanding of life and death. For us today, these readings call us to live with hope, even in the midst of challenges. Let us trust in God’s faithfulness, remain steadfast in our commitment to the Gospel, and remember that our ultimate destiny is not this world but eternal life with God. May we, like the brothers and their mother, face life’s trials with courage, knowing that our hope in the resurrection will one day be fulfilled.