32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

2 Mc 7:1-2, 9-14
Ps 17:1, 5-6, 8, 15
2 Thes 2:16--3:5
Lk 20:27-38 or Lk 20:27, 34-38

Hello, I’m Franciscan Father Greg Friedman with the Sunday Soundbite for the Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time.

In my ministry with St. Anthony Messenger Press, one of my roles is to answer questions on our radio program, "American Catholic Radio." I usually try first to put the answer in the simplest terms, from what I already know. Then I usually do some research, to be sure I’m giving the person an accurate response.

But I’m not sure how I'd react if I had to tackle the case Jesus receives in today's Gospel. It's a complicated, multi-part question about a woman who was widowed seven times, the Old Testament's law about a brother-in-law stepping in to marry his deceased brother's widow, and what will happen to all those spouses in heaven! Fortunately, the answer is an easy one: It's all about resurrection.

The question was a loaded one. It was asked of Jesus by the Sadducees, who did not believe in the resurrection, so their agenda was to promote their erroneous point of view. Jesus' clever reply cuts through all their complications, and even quotes Moses to respond.

Fortunately, we don't have to go through such complications to ground our faith in the resurrection, and the promise of eternal life with Christ. We need only to make our act of faith in him who died and rose for us. As Christians, the new life Jesus gives is the ultimate answer to all our questions.

Scripture:

•It is my choice to die at the hands of men with the hope God gives of being raised up by him (2 Malachi 7:14)

•Keep me as the apple of your eye, hide me in the shadow of your wings. (Psalm 17:8)

•May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the endurance of Christ. (2 Thessalonians 3:5)

•They can no longer die, for they are like angels; and they are the children of God because they are the ones who will rise. (Luke 20:36)

Reflection:

•How do you live the resurrection daily?

•What opportunities do you have to be the resurrection for others?

•Did you pray this week? How did you pray?

•Did you offer a prayer or sacrifice for another this week?

We need not fly to the height of heaven, nor go down to the depths of the earth, to find him who is with us, if only we love him and want to be with him. No one need say, ‘But what am I to love?’ Love your brother, and you will be loving love itself, you will know the love by which you live better than the brother whom you love. He who is filled with God is filled with love. St John says: ‘He who does not love his brother whom he sees, cannot love God whom he does not see.’ Why is that? If he does not love his brother he walks in darkness and cannot see the light; he only sees his brother with an outward human vision which cannot see God who is himself the love he lacks. It is with the same love that God and our neighbor are loved, for God is love. (St Augustine)

***********************************************************************************

Do you believe in the resurrection? That's the question that Jesus indirectly poses when he challenges the Sadducees in this Sunday's Gospel reading.

As Christians, we believe that someday we will experience a resurrection like Christ's, after we depart from this present earthly "age" or stage of life. All believers who follow Jesus will live as the angels do. This is why Catholic funeral Masses are Resurrection Masses and use white instead of black as the liturgical color.

But do you believe in the resurrection of love? Jesus explained the resurrection in terms of marriage. A marriage is supposed to be a reflection of God's love for his people. Marriage is supposed to unite a man and a woman in an enduring love that comes from God; therefore it gives witness to the world of God's faithfulness and commitment.

So why would Jesus say that marriage is not a part of the resurrection of the dead? Why wouldn't marriages formed on earth become perfect and continue forever after both husband and wife have entered heaven?

Here on earth, love is imperfectly given and imperfectly received. Therefore, it's constantly dying and being resurrected again, every day, to the extent that each spouse repents and forgives. (The same is true of any holy friendship.)

Perfect love is God. We live as his true offspring to the extent that we love our brothers and sisters the way he loves them. Today we are imperfect children. When we die, purgatory will purge out the imperfections, and in heaven we will be just like our Daddy.

Marriage does not exist in the afterlife because it's an imperfect reflection of God's love: We love our spouses more than we love others. In heaven, we will love our spouses fully (yes, even our ex-spouses!) AND we will love everyone else just as much. And those who have loved us poorly will love us better than the best spouse could love us now.

Marriage is only a foreshadowing of what love – with everyone – will be like in heaven.

Questions for Personal Reflection:

Who has failed to love you enough? Who has caused you a lot of pain? How would you feel if that person were to greet you at the entrance of heaven to let you in at the moment of your death? Do you have enough love for that person to get you through the door?

Questions for Family & Community Faith Sharing:

How is a marriage like God's love? Describe the ways that God loves us, and relate these signs of true love to what you've experienced in good friendships. How is this a foretaste of heaven.