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.

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Mourn: How long?

Scripture/Bible:  But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb; 12 and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him." 14 Saying this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?" Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away." 16 Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rab-bo'ni!" (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, "Do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God." 18 Mary Mag'dalene went and said to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"; and she told them that he had said these things to her. Jn 20:11-18

Reflection:  What if Jesus would not have risen from the dead then how long would Mary, not the mother of Jesus, continue to mourn for Jesus?  Depends on how much she loved the Lord.

Death of a beloved brings with it the many memories which can make us sad, depressed, hurt, angry, pained and disillusioned with life and its purpose.  Life can become an empty vacuum and there seems very little meaning for existence.

A sudden death or a painful death is still worse to overcome and come to terms with.  The very thought of seeing our loved ones in pain or having gone through a painful, violent death can send us into a tizzy. 

Mary’s woes seems similar and so too the hopes of many of his disciples. It would have been still worse if Jesus had not prepared them on this journey, even though there were bouts of unbelief.

If he had not revealed himself post resurrection then I am sure many of his disciples would have had some sort of nervous breakdown. They would have felt that they followed him with hope and had invested all their future in a man whose life has been suddenly snuffed out from their midst.

The Resurrection of Jesus brings hope in the midst of such a crisis, not only to the apostles but also to all who believe in him and his words of assurance.

Therefore, a Christian can be sad and sorrowful at the separation of a loved one but they cannot give in to despair; as if everything is lost forever and for all eternity.  Further they can overcome their many anxieties, hurts, fears, depression, sadness and whatever weighs them down with Jesus the Lord and master who has in himself overcome every enemy of death.

For this to happen one has to practically seek his help and constantly look to him.  The minimum one can do is be grateful to the Lord for his higher plans and purpose for their lives.

Blessed is the man who has been prepared by him in his transforming presence even before these tragedies have come into being in their lives.

Prayer:  Lord may I learn daily in your presence how to trust you and your ways for me.

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