Daily Readings - Sat Nov 22 2025
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 very different narratives, yet both invite us to reflect on the nature of human ambition, the consequences of our choices, and the ultimate hope that lies beyond this life. The first reading from 1 Maccabees tells the story of King Antiochus, who, having failed in his attempt to plunder a temple in Persia, is overwhelmed by grief and regret. His once-proud spirit is broken as he confronts the reality of his own mortality and the evil deeds he has committed. This passage serves as a cautionary tale about the fleeting nature of earthly power and the inevitable consequences of sin.
The Gospel reading from Luke shifts our focus from the temporal to the eternal. Jesus engages in a debate with the Sadducees, who deny the resurrection of the dead. Using a hypothetical scenario about a woman who marries seven brothers in succession, the Sadducees attempt to discredit the idea of an afterlife. Jesus, however, turns their question on its head. He explains that life in the resurrection is fundamentally different from life in this world. There will be no marriage or earthly relationships, for the resurrected will live in a state akin to the angels, free from death and decay. Jesus grounds this teaching in the Scriptures, reminding his listeners that God is the God of the living, not the dead.
These readings invite us to reflect on the ultimate purpose of our lives. The story of Antiochus warns us against allowing ambition and greed to dominate our hearts, for such pursuits ultimately lead to emptiness and regret. Jesus, on the other hand, offers us hope. He reminds us that our true fulfillment is not found in the things of this world but in the eternal life that awaits us. As we navigate the challenges of daily life, let us keep our eyes fixed on the horizon of eternity. May we strive to live in such a way that we are prepared to meet God face to face, trusting in his promise of resurrection and eternal life.