Daily Readings - Sat Nov 23 2019
Luke
27Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus with a question.28"Teacher," they said, "Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and have children for his brother.29Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a woman and died childless.30The second31and then the third married her, and in the same way the seven died, leaving no children.32Finally, the woman died too.33Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?"34Jesus replied, "The people of this age marry and are given in marriage.35But those who are considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage,36and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God's children, since they are children of the resurrection.37But in the account of the bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord 'the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.'38He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive."39Some of the teachers of the law responded, "Well said, teacher!"40And no one dared to ask him any more questions.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two distinct narratives that converge on themes of divine justice, the afterlife, and the consequences of human actions. The first reading from 1 Maccabees portrays King Antiochus, overwhelmed by grief and regret, as he confronts the repercussions of his oppressive deeds, particularly against Jerusalem. His downfall serves as a testament to the principle that sin leads to downfall, while the Jewish people, though oppressed, ultimately find triumph through their faith and resilience.
The Gospel from Luke presents a theological debate where the Sadducees challenge Jesus on the concept of resurrection. Using a complex scenario involving seven brothers and their wife, they aim to discredit the idea of an afterlife. Jesus, however, transcends their earthly perspective, explaining that in the resurrection, relationships will be redefined, akin to the angels, and all will be alive in God's presence. He underscores this by referencing Moses, affirming that God is the God of the living, not the dead.
Both readings, though differing in context—one historical and the other theological—unite in their exploration of death, divine justice, and eternal life. The Maccabean narrative highlights earthly consequences of sin, while Luke's Gospel elevates our gaze to the hope of resurrection. Together, they remind us to live with integrity, trusting in God's plan beyond our mortal lives. The moral lesson is clear: sin has consequences, but through faith and virtuous living, we can embrace the hope of eternal life, where all are alive in God's eternal embrace.