They are like angels; and they are the children of God
2 Mc 7:
1-2, 9-14
2 Thes 2:
16-3:5
Lk 20:
27-38
The art of debate is skillful. In this very emotional and political year, we have witnessed two candidates in a number of debates. Earlier, we saw quite a number of debates which narrowed down the field considerably to the final two. As we watch two debaters go at it, we root for the side that seems to be best prepared, most on their feet to counter the position of the other side, and quick in rebutting those positions with a word or phrase that may change the direction of the lively conversation. In our Gospel this Sunday, we witness what is in effect a moment of theological debate between the Sadduccees and Jesus. Our Lord, however, always wins the day and this Sunday we see how wisely he gets to the core of the issue to emphasize the truth of his argument.
So, the Sadducees, with ill intent toward Jesus’ teaching on the
resurrection, pose a hypothetical situation to him about a woman who married seven
brothers successively as each of them died. According to Mosaic Law, the line
of progeny must continue so marriage to the brother of a deceased husband was
not out of the question. Poking fun in a sense at the concept of life after
death, the Sadducees present this absurd scenario to Jesus for his comment. They
state: “Now at the resurrection whose wife
will that woman be?”
Their intent
was to dismiss Jesus’ teaching, and that of the Pharisees, on resurrection
after death for the Sadducee imagined a kind of resuscitation rather than a
spiritual existence as Jesus posed and so they mock the entire concept. Their
focus was entirely of this world alone.
Still, it
is somewhat surprising that after living so long among the Egyptians, the
ancestors of the Jews did not pass on a solid belief in life after death. The Egyptians held a very firm concept that
life beyond this life continues and they made great efforts for each of their
Pharos that their future would be provided for after their passing. So, the
Jews, even to this day, do not have a clear definition of life beyond human
death.
Yet, our first
reading from Maccabees, about 200 years before Jesus, tells the great heroism
of “seven brothers” and their mother who went to their deaths rather than defy
Jewish dietary law. Their inspired faith reveals that of future resurrection
three times in this reading. Ready to
die, the one brother proclaims: “the King
of the world will raise us up to live again forever . . . the hope God gives of
being raised up . . . for you (the pagan King) there will be no resurrection to life.”
As belief
in life after this life circulated among certain segments of Jewish teachers, this
naturally opened the door for our Lord to rebut the proposition posed by the Sadducees,
as he always did so well.
As Jesus argues with the Sadducees, he expands their
limited, material understanding of the relationship between the resurrected life
and this life. He states essentially that the resurrected life is not a repetition
of this one. After death there is a spiritual existence as the soul is separated
from the material body to “live” in a different state of eternity, a place in
which human relationships change from something of this material world, to
something spiritual. It is a kind of transformation; a new life.
He
skillfully uses the scenario posed by his detractors to explain that: “. . . those who are deemed worthy to attain to the
coming age and to the resurrection of the dead neither neither marry nor are
given in marriage. They can no longer
die, for they are like angels; and they are children of God because they are
the ones who will rise.”
Stating further that even Moses implied continued life when
he called out: “Lord, the God of Abraham,
the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob” as the God of the living, thereby
stating that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob still live! Marriage, therefore, is
something of this world and necessary for the continuation of the human race.
But, in eternity it is no longer necessary so the Sadducees hypothetical case
is just that – imaginary when applied to eternity and resurrection.
Now
towards end of this liturgical year and in the month of November, we reflect
about our future. We are remembering all month the faithful departed; our
brothers and sisters who have died and now live in that future spiritual reality.
What do we
believe? While we rarely ponder life after death on a daily basis, still this
Sunday reminds us about this great truth of our faith; something we will all eventually
experience whether we think about it now or not.
Faith
should motivate us to step into a world beyond this one to imagine another type
of reality that is not constrained by space, time, and the laws of the natural
world. If there is no way to prove that life does not continue beyond this one,
then it is possible that it does. This is where faith speaks to us.
Jesus
states: “They are like angels.”
Angels are pure spirits so our future has something to do with an existence
outside of space and time; a place of pure spirit but an existence where we
remain who we are.
As we
reflect on the “end times” and future resurrection, we are reminded about our
Hope as Christians. It is hope based in
a promise by Jesus, as he states in the Gospel this Sunday. Our faith is not something of this world
alone but the force that will carry us beyond, where life will be “changed not
ended” as our funeral liturgy beautifully reminds us.
This
offers us a perspective. That we should look at this life as pure gift that
ultimately calls us to deeper trust in God and to believe that God’s desire is
that we find that ultimate union with him in eternity. That what we do now, how we live in this world
as a Christian people, does make a difference and will in eternity as well. Letting
go and growing in faith and trust sets the right direction to follow. While our
readings this Sunday have the feel of a theological discussion we still need to
wrap our head and hearts around what they imply, for we proclaim every Sunday:
“I believe in the resurrection of the dead.” This weekend opens a door to
deeper understanding of our future, for those who know Jesus and have embraced
his Gospel.
The
Eucharist we feed upon and the Word of God we hear offer us that road map and
the spiritual strength to achieve this salvation.
Go forth, Christian soul, from this world
in the name of God the almighty Father,
who created you,
in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God,
who suffered for you,
in the name of the Holy Spirit,
who was poured out upon you,
go forth, faithful Christian . . .
(Rite of Pastoral Care of the Sick)
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