Resurrection

Today’s Gospel Text:  There came to him some Sadducees, those who say that there is no resurrection, 28 and they asked him a question, saying, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies, having a wife but no children, the man must take the wife and raise up children for his brother. 29 Now there were seven brothers; the first took a wife, and died without children; 30 and the second 31 and the third took her, and likewise all seven left no children and died. 32 Afterward the woman also died. 33 In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had her as wife."

34 And Jesus said to them, "The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage; 35 but those who are accounted worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, 36 for they cannot die any more, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. 37 But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. 38 Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living; for all live to him." 39 And some of the scribes answered, "Teacher, you have spoken well." 40 For they no longer dared to ask him any question. Luke 20:27-40

Reflection: How can those who believe in God think of life without often reflecting on the resurrection?

The very foundation of our faith is based on the resurrection; Christ Jesus our founder has gone ahead of us by dying, then rising from the dead on the third day in accordance with the scriptures.

We could think of people coming back to life within the first 5 to 7 minutes of their death or even a little more but to rise from the dead on the third day is a profound miracle and a powerful message for us to reflect on.

Christ’ resurrection is a fact of history, recorded in the annals of history (Flavius Josephus: Antiquities of the Jews, Book 18, Chapter 3, 3 ) and proved by the empty tomb, whose stone was found moved on the morning of the resurrection and is found mentioned in all the four gospel and the other writings of the New Testament. 

It was preached by the Apostles as eyewitnesses to his appearances, even under grave threat to their lives and subsequently had to face it for their testimony along with other witnesses of that time.

When one believes in the resurrection, they would also accept the fact of life eternal and what Jesus has to reveal to us about this life: “God himself will be with them; he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away." Rev 21:3-4

Thus Jesus in the gospel text reveals to us an important aspect of the resurrection; “those who are accounted worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, for they cannot die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. (vss. 35-36)

Now concerning the fruit of resurrection, this is what St. Paul has to teach us: "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him," 1 Cor 2:9

Prayer: Lord, let my actions never betray my belief in the sure resurrection of the just which you have accomplished for us by your death and Resurrection.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Increased Righteousness

Scripture/Bible:For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 21 "You have heard that it was said to the men of old, 'You shall not kill; and whoever kills shall be liable to judgment.' 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother shall be liable to the council, and whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be liable to the hell of fire. 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Make friends quickly with your accuser, while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison; 26 truly, I say to you, you will never get out till you have paid the last penny. Mt. 5:20-26

Reflection:  We look up to people in power and high offices and think that they are better than us and it could be true in many an instance.

When it comes to priests we surely think the best of them and more so when they rise up the ladder of hierarchy.  

The Scribes and the Pharisees whom we may look down upon on account of the exposure of Jesus were in reality looked up to by the masses in their days.  It is the presence of the light of Christ that exposes them and the naked truth beyond their hypocrisy. 

Imagine Jesus in our times saying similar things; “For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the Bishops, Priests and religious, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

A statement like that could shock many of us and we may wonder who then can be saved, more so since them whom we thought to be perfect or far better than ourselves are on the road to perdition. 

There could be various types of righteousness;  The righteousness that comes from the Law, the one that comes from the sacred office, the one that comes from the cloth or the external paraphernalia’s, or from one of those charismatic gifts, or the through the healing received or through some of the fruit of the spirit. 

None of these righteousness’s can be of help to enter the kingdom as they in themselves are not enough to enter the kingdom of God.  Our righteousness has to exceed all these, it has to be the righteousness that comes through Jesus.

     

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from law, although the law and the prophets bear witness to it, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction. Rom 3:21-22

Prayer: “Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness because of my enemies; make thy way straight before me.”  Ps 5:8

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Lift up your Eyes

Scripture/Bible:  When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify thy Son that the Son may glorify thee, 2 since thou hast given him power over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom thou hast given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent. 4 I glorified thee on earth, having accomplished the work which thou gavest me to do; 5 and now, Father, glorify thou me in thy own presence with the glory which I had with thee before the world was made. John 17:1-5

Reflection:  Where is heaven? Who knows whether heaven is upwards questioned the seemingly wise theologian?

Our modern day experts take great pleasure in questioning everything; whether it is the hour of prayer or the hour of glory or the location of heaven.

What does it matter to us who have found the truth; Christ Jesus: “the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.” John 14:6

When the scripture tell us that Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven, then it is. The divine revealed Son, who was always in the bosom of the Father has revealed to us that which is objectively true and safe to practice.

So when Jesus looks heaven wards it could be a dwelling of God in the heavenly or higher above the heavens. 

Heaven is and was always considered a place up above, therefore the Psalmist would pray: “Thou whose glory above the heavens is chanted.”  Ps 8:1

With Jesus with us, it would be good sometimes to pray like him lifting up our eyes to the heavens. In doing so we will be acknowledging at least one thing necessary for his ongoing work of salvation in us: “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isa 55:9

Prayer: “To thee I lift up my eyes, O thou who art enthroned in the heavens!” Ps 123:1

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us