The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite consideration of the irony wherein our efforts at self aggrandizement may become the source of our failure. From this pattern we may be able to become more aware of the possibilities of common ground with others.
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| Working for common ground |
The reading from the First Book of Maccabees describes the last days of Antiochus Epiphanes.
The wicked are snared in the work of their own hands is a theme in Psalm 9.
* [Psalms 9–10] Ps 9 and Ps 10 in the Hebrew text have been transmitted as separate poems but they actually form a single acrostic poem and are so transmitted in the Greek and Latin tradition. Each verse of the two Psalms begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet (though several letters have no corresponding stanza). The Psalm states loosely connected themes: the rescue of the helpless poor from their enemies, God’s worldwide judgment and rule over the nations, the psalmist’s own concern for rescue (Ps 9:14–15).1
Jesus cleverly handles a question about the resurrection from the Sadducees in the Gospel of Luke.
* [20:28–33] The Sadducees’ question, based on the law of levirate marriage recorded in Dt 25:5–10, ridicules the idea of the resurrection. Jesus rejects their naive understanding of the resurrection (Lk 20:35–36) and then argues on behalf of the resurrection of the dead on the basis of the written law (Lk 20:37–38) that the Sadducees accept. See also notes on Mt 22:23–33.2
Eileen Wirth observes Sadducees aren’t the only ones who have expected God to judge people’s adherence to their rules. She grew up in a Catholic culture that was almost as obsessed with legalistic trivia as they were.
• If you were distracted during the priest’s communion (easy to do when his back was turned to you), had you missed Mass?
• Could you eat beans on Friday if a tiny piece of pork floated in the can even if you removed it?
• Would you spend time in purgatory for talking in church?
• If you were female was it sinful not to wear a hat in church?
This looks silly in retrospect but we took such questions pretty seriously in the 1950’s.
Today’s gospel teaches us that God is concerned about big issues like those in the two great commandments about loving him and our neighbor, not our own peculiar rules. Probably God cares no more whether a Muslim eats a piece of bacon than he does if I have a hamburger on a Friday in Lent.3
Don Schwager quotes “Jesus cites Moses to affirm the resurrection,” by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD).
"The Savior also demonstrated the great ignorance of the Sadducees by bringing forward their own leader Moses, who was clearly acquainted with the resurrection of the dead. He set God before us saying in the bush, 'I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob' (Exodus 3:6). Of whom is he God, if, according to their argument, these have ceased to live? He is the God of the living. They certainly will rise when his almighty right hand brings them and all that are on the earth there. For people not to believe that this will happen is worthy perhaps of the ignorance of the Sadducees, but it is altogether unworthy of those who love Christ. We believe in him who says, 'I am the resurrection and the life' (John 11:25). He will raise the dead suddenly, in the twinkling of an eye, and at the last trumpet. It shall sound, the dead in Christ shall rise incorruptible, and we shall be changed (1 Corinthians 15:52). For Christ our common Savior will transfer us into incorruption, glory and to an incorruptible life." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 136)4
The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 20:27-40 comments that trying to relate to people who are different from us can be scary. Whether we disagree about sports, politics, sexual morality, or religion, chances are that we would rather not get into an uncomfortable conversation. But Jesus’ dialogue with the Sadducees gives us a three-part model that we can follow.
First, be peaceful. Try to approach people who are different from you with peace in your heart... Second, find common ground. Always begin by looking for something that you agree on… Finally, make positive connections. Look for the ways in which a person’s outlook aligns with Scripture and Catholic teaching. Help them see that they are closer to the Lord than they might think—and that God is closer to them as well. Reach out in love, and you will make a difference.5
Friar Jude Winkler explores the possibility of propaganda in the story of the last days of Antiochus Epiphanes. Jesus finds common ground with the Sadducees in the Book of Genesis. Friar Jude reminds us of Jesus clever argument to confirm the resurrection of the dead.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, observes while sound teaching can enlighten the mind and powerful preaching can move the heart, song has a unique power to move our bodies, pulling us into the river that flowed before us and will continue long after we are gone.
Listen to a recording of this song, “Stay on the Battlefield,” sung by Sweet Honey in the Rock and woven with a poem by Sonia Sanchez at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRe5aACNx50. 6
Our patterns of behaviour may lead to separation from others or to peaceful relationships around common ground.
References
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