Daily Readings - Wed Jun 03 2020
Mark
18And Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection. And they asked him a question, saying,19"Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies and leaves a wife, but leaves no child, the man must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother.20There were seven brothers; the first took a wife, and when he died left no offspring.21And the second took her, and died, leaving no offspring. And the third likewise.22And the seven left no offspring. Last of all the woman also died.23In the resurrection, when they rise again, whose wife will she be? For the seven had her as wife."24Jesus said to them, "Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God?25For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.26And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God spoke to him, saying, 'I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'?27He is not God of the dead, but of the living. You are quite wrong."
Sermon
In today’s Gospel, we encounter a dialogue between Jesus and the Sadducees, who present a complex scenario to challenge His understanding of resurrection. They describe a situation where seven brothers marry the same woman, each dying without children, and ask whose wife she would be in the resurrection. This question, rooted in their disbelief in the afterlife, seeks to undermine Jesus' teachings. Jesus responds by clarifying that in the resurrection, earthly marriage customs no longer apply, as the resurrected live like angels, free from earthly bonds. He emphasizes that God is the God of the living, not the dead, referencing Moses’ encounter with the burning bush to underscore the eternal nature of life with God.
The Sadducees’ question stems from their rejection of the resurrection, using a legal scenario from the Torah to frame their challenge. Jesus, however, shifts the focus from legalities to the nature of God and eternal life. This exchange highlights the Sadducees’ misunderstanding of both Scripture and God’s power, as they fail to grasp the transcendence of resurrection beyond earthly concerns.
In our daily lives, this teaching invites us to reflect on our priorities and values. It encourages us to look beyond temporary earthly concerns and focus on nurturing our relationship with God. Our true identity and relationships are rooted in eternity, urging us to trust in God’s power and promises. This passage calls us to live with hope and faith, knowing our ultimate fulfillment lies in eternal life with God, where our true selves flourish beyond the limitations of this world.