First Reading: 2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14
Reflection:
The story presented in the first reading is part of a larger one which describes the torture and death of seven Jewish brothers and their mother under the persecutions of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the Seleucid King controlling Palestine about 150 years before the birth of Jesus. When Antiochus and his armies overran Palestine they desecrated the Temple in Jerusalem, which prevented the Jews from fulfilling the Law of ritual and sacrifice. The Jews, led by the Maccabean (which means “hammer” in Aramaic) brothers, revolted and eventually drove the Seleucids out of the land, at which time they rededicated the Temple. In this Sunday’s reading, one of the seven brothers, on the verge of death, cried out: “the King of the world will raise us up to live again forever!” This proclamation of hope in eternal life is what makes this story unique and ties it to the gospel reading. The belief in resurrection developed late in Jewish theology, and although it appears in some writings from the 2nd and 1st centuries B.C., it was still being hotly contested at the time of Jesus. The story of the torture and great courage of this mother and her sons teaches a lesson about the importance of having hope in God and following his commandments. It also instructs us about the source of their hope: there is more than this life. We trust that something even more magnificent awaits us. Like many of us, this mother and brothers were challenged to sacrifice their ideals and beliefs under the threat of hardship. They refused and suffered the consequences. We can emulate their faith and hope when we strive to do what is right, even in the face of opposition.
Second Reading: 2 Thessalonians 2:16-3:5
Reflection:
Second Thessalonians was written to encourage the community to hold fast to the teachings its members had received from the Apostle Paul and to continue to live responsibly. The present passage is a prayer of hope and encouragement. The Christian faith is grounded in the love of God who is revealed in the person of Jesus Christ. Only by relying on God will people truly receive the strength and courage to endure life’s challenges. It was a treacherous undertaking to evangelize in the regions of Greece and Turkey in the early days of the Christian Church, and Paul asks for prayer for he and his companions involved in this ministry. Unlike the Thessalonians who had received the words of Paul with joy, other people often countered the Good News with words of violence and hate. In spite of this, Paul emphasizes that the Lord, who is faithful, will protect the community. He speaks enthusiastically of the Thessalonians’ faith, prayer, and charity, and he expresses his desire that they stay rooted in God’s love, always trusting in Christ. He also alludes to everlasting life, a theme in both the first reading and gospel reading, when he says, “God our Father [has] given us everlasting encouragement.” In other words, we can find hope in the midst of great sufferings and persecutions by looking at it from an eternal perspective. This life is not the end. We have eternity in heaven to look forward to.
Gospel Reading: Luke 20:27-38
Reflection:
In order to understand this passage, we need to understand that there was an active debate about the resurrection of the dead at the time of Jesus. The Sadducees denied that there is a resurrection, while the Pharisees were more accepting of the idea. Jesus agreed with the Pharisees. The Sadducees’ reaction to Jesus in this Sunday’s gospel reading is consistent with their reputation in the community of that day. They were comprised mostly of priestly or wealthy “aristocratic” power families. In order to protect their status and wealth, they cultivated good relationships with the Roman authorities. They also seemed to promote conflict rather than respect with the religious teachers. They also supported strict interpretation of the Levitical Laws. This sets the scene for the exchange with Jesus whom they are obviously trying to trip up by presenting this emotionally charged question: “After seven brothers have married this woman and died, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be?” Our initial reaction might be, “Who cares! Why would seven brothers marry the same woman?” But in fact, this was a practice in the culture of Jesus because it was prescribed in the Law of Moses. In an era when there was no belief in the afterlife, it was essential to have children in order to carry on one’s name and heritage. Children were seen as the connection to life after death. In this tradition, a brother would marry a childless widow in order to produce an heir who would carry on the legacy of the first husband (always the eldest brother), who also had inherited everything from his father. Jesus’ response is a refusal to be caught in their trap. He simply states that marriage itself does not apply in heaven. Human existence and human relationships will be different, as they will be glorified, in eternity. As good and necessary as marriage is on earth, it won’t be necessary in heaven.
Application:
How often do you think about heaven? Is your life oriented toward eternity with God? How could you better prepare yourself for heaven? How does focusing on the end goal of our lives, heaven, change your perspective on your current circumstances?
