Daily Readings - Sat Nov 25 2023
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, when considered together, offer profound insights into the nature of faith, mortality, and the divine. The first reading from 1 Maccabees presents King Antiochus, who, having suffered defeat and grief, begins to recognize the errors of his ways. His sorrow leads him to reflect on the injustices he perpetrated, particularly against the people of Jerusalem. This narrative highlights the human capacity for repentance and the consequences of one's actions, even for those in power.
The Gospel from Luke shifts our focus to a theological debate about the resurrection. The Sadducees, who deny the resurrection, pose a complex question to Jesus regarding marriage in the afterlife. Jesus responds by transcending the earthly bounds of marriage, explaining that in the age to come, we will be like angels, free from death's grasp. He underscores the reality of the resurrection by invoking Moses and the burning bush, where God identifies Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who are alive in His presence.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own mortality and the hope of eternal life. King Antiochus's story reminds us that even in the midst of sorrow and defeat, there is an opportunity for repentance and a return to God. Jesus's teaching challenges us to look beyond the limitations of this world and to trust in God's promise of resurrection. As we navigate the challenges of our daily lives, let us hold fast to the hope that our true home is with God, where sorrow and death will no longer have dominion. May we live in such a way that our hearts are aligned with God's will, and may we always remember that we are children of the resurrection, destined for eternal life with Him.