32nd
Sunday, Year C •• 2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14 •• Psalm 17 •• 2 Thessalonians 2:16-35
•• Luke
20:27-38 ••
[__01__] In
the Gospel this Sunday, Jesus engages in a legal debate with the Sadducee party
of Jerusalem.
We might say that both our Savior and the Sadducees are
…
·
Enrolled in the same course
·
Studying the same curriculum
·
Taking the same examinations
However, these classmates are
reaching different conclusions.
[__02__] That
is, both our Savior and the Sadducees have studied the 10 Commandments, studied
the importance of ethics and responsibility, honesty, sacrifice, love of God
and love of neighbor.
They believe that God is the creator of the world and
the universe and the author of laws, of justice, of love.
In a sense, both our Savior and the Sadducees agree –
completely – about history, about the past.
What they disagree about is the
present and the future.
[__03__] And, in the Gospel today, the Sadducees and
our Savior are discussing the possibility of salvation, and of existence … of
existence beyond this world, beyond this life, the personal and individual
resurrection of the body.
[__04__] During the month of November, the month of
All Souls, we are reminded to pray for our loved ones, to pray for the dead,
the deceased.
[__05__] Their lives have value. And, their life does
not have value only because of a history of a past or even because of a legacy
alone. Yes, it is beautiful to leave a legacy of charity, of love, of children,
grandchildren.
All of these things enrich our lives. Part of the month
of November is to give thanks for these legacies and achievements.
In many cases, these legacies also help us to focus on
the future, to be hopeful.
For example, recalling the earlier persistence and
endurance of our parents and grandparents, we are strengthened in our
commitments today.
[__06__] However, this is not the debate between our
Savior and the Sadducees. They are not debating whether or not we should have family
pictures around the house or whether we should talk about our deceased loved
ones with affection.
They would agree
about this history.
[__07__] Rather, Jesus is challenging the Sadducees and
you and me to accept that God does not only regard us based on what we have
done lately or what are doing right now.
Rather, through the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we
remain alive even if …
·
We are not physically active
·
Intellectually achieving
·
Or even conscious
We could suffer death. Yet, the Good News, to God all
are alive.
This does not change our past. It is meant to change
our view of the future.
[__08__] The
hope of personal and bodily resurrection reminds us that we are loved and known
as individuals by God.
In this regard, we learn our faith not only to
understand the past, or our past. We learn our faith so that we will know where
we are going… when the final exam is …
That we are all sinners in need of God’s grace.
To God, all are alive.
[__FIN__]
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