Fatal misunderstanding

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today resonate with the Memorial of Saint Andrew Dung-Lac and Companions, Vietnamese martyrs, who are modern example of centuries of religious persecution.

Living beyond persecution

The Book of Revelation symbolically focuses on the tribulation of the Church under persecution from Rome.

* [11:9–12] Over the martyrdom (Rev 11:7) of the two witnesses, now called prophets, the ungodly rejoice for three and a half days, a symbolic period of time; see note on Rev 11:2. Afterwards they go in triumph to heaven, as did Elijah (2 Kgs 2:11).

In the Gospel from Luke, Jesus, cleverly confronts the Sadducees over the resurrection from the dead and Love that is eternal.

* [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.

John Shea, S.J., comments that today’s Gospel reminds us that we worship a God of life.

We worship not the “God of the dead, but of the living.” Jesus reminds us that the dead will rise. To God, all are alive. We can choose to focus on the fallen leaves or we can choose to focus on the beautiful bright pallet of fall colors. We can choose to focus on the barren trees that appear dead or we can choose to focus on their new life in the spring.

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)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 20:27-40 is to thank God for the promise of resurrection.

Lying on an infirmary cot at the age of twenty-four, Thérèse of Lisieux assessed her situation. “I am not dying,” she wrote to a friend. “I am entering life.”
Far from becoming gloomy at the prospect of an untimely death, Thérèse rejoiced. She could say these words even though she was experiencing the absence of God through much of her illness. Despite the dark night she was in, she knew through faith that an eternity was awaiting her where she would be united with her Spouse, the Lord Jesus. It’s no wonder Thérèse’s last words were “My God, . . . I love you!”

Friar Jude Winkler links the symbols of the Book of Revelation to the Church. Jesus asserts that the woman does not belong to anyone. Friar Jude comments that Jesus cleverness was a very admired attribute in ancient times.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, reflects on the Yoga practice of Vinyasa and Savasana to connect us to death and resurrection.

As you lie on your back and let each muscle in your body—from toes to the top of your head—relax and sink into the ground, remember that you will die, but there is nothing to fear. Not even death can separate you from Love, and from death comes Life. Rest in this awareness.

As we contemplate the transition of death, we are reassured that our experience of Life in relationship with the God of the living continues forever.

References

(n.d.). Revelation chapter 11 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved November 24, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/revelation/11
(n.d.). Luke chapter 20 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved November 24, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/luke/20
(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections .... Retrieved November 24, 2018, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved November 24, 2018, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
(n.d.). Meditations - The Word Among Us. Retrieved November 24, 2018, from https://wau.org/meditations/
(2017, December 30). 2018 Daily Meditations - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved November 24, 2018, from https://cac.org/2018-daily-meditations/