Daily Readings - Wed Jun 03 2020
Mark
18Then the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question.19"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.20Now there were seven brothers. The first one married and died without leaving any children.21The second one married the widow, but he also died, leaving no child. It was the same with the third.22In fact, none of the seven left any children. Last of all, the woman died too.23At the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?"24Jesus replied, "Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?25When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.26Now about the dead rising--have you not read in the book of Moses, in the account of the bush, how God said to him, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'?27He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!"
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.