The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to contemplate the aspects of our relationship with God that bring us strength to endure difficulty and disaster on our journey.
The reading from the Second Book of Maccabees describes of the martyrdom of a mother and her seven sons.
* [7:9] The King of the universe will raise us up: here, and in vv. 11, 14, 23, 29, 36, belief in the future resurrection of the body, at least for the just, is clearly stated; cf. also 12:44; 14:46; Dn 12:2. (2 Maccabees, CHAPTER 7, n.d.)
Psalm 17 is a prayer for deliverance from persecutors.
* [Psalm 17] A lament of an individual unjustly attacked. Confident of being found innocent, the psalmist cries out for God’s just judgment (Ps 17:1–5) and requests divine help against enemies (Ps 17:6–9a). Those ravenous lions (Ps 17:9b–12) should be punished (Ps 17:13–14). The Psalm ends with a serene statement of praise (Ps 17:15). The Hebrew text of Ps 17:3–4, 14 is uncertain. (Psalms, PSALM 17, n.d.)
The reading from the Second Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians is a request for prayer.
* [2:1–17] The Thessalonians have been shaken by a message purporting to come from Paul himself that the day of the Lord is already present. He warns against this deception in eschatology by citing a scenario of events that must first occur (2 Thes 2:3–12) before the end will come. The overall point Paul makes is the need to reject such lies as Satan sends; he also reaffirms the Thessalonians in their calling (2 Thes 2:13–14). They are to uphold what Paul himself has taught (2 Thes 2:15). There is a concluding prayer for their strengthening (2 Thes 2:16–17). (2 Thessalonians, CHAPTER 2, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus addresses the question about the Resurrection.
* [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. (Luke, CHAPTER 20, n.d.)
Mirielle Mason found the second reading provided her with some balm to soothe her feelings of being lost in the weeds.
I would like to encourage the reader to sit with the second and larger paragraph. Does anything speak to you? Every line struck me. “The word of the Lord must be glorified.” Now, this may be difficult for some to do. Perhaps we have questions, or doubts. Maybe our own trials feel like they are blocking our connection with God. “But the Lord is faithful, he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one”. Strengthen…. That is the key for me. I am not meant to walk this path alone. The path of belief, of anger, of frustration. God is there to strengthen me. And what a wondrous thing that is! (Mason, n.d.)
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) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 20:27-38 asks how could a yearning for heaven change us? Just look at today’s first reading of the woman and her seven sons who were tortured and killed for refusing to violate God’s laws (2 Maccabees 7). Each of them was able to face their executioners bravely because they knew, without a doubt, that God would restore them to life again. Death wasn’t the end for them.
You can have courage too, as long as you keep your eyes fixed on your eternal destiny. As you place your hope in the life to come, your problems will shrink in size and your hardships will become easier to bear. Not only that, but all your actions and decisions will be directed toward that one goal of union with God forever.
Today at Mass, try to surrender your earthly concerns to the Lord and focus instead on the life that God has promised you. Then ask him to give you a deep longing for heaven, one that casts away fear and brings you lasting hope and peace.
“Jesus, help me keep my eyes fixed on you and your promises.” (Meditation on Luke 20:27-38, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler reminds us that 2 Maccabees was written in Greek and so is not accepted in the Jewish or Protestant canon. The willingness to die in 2 Maccabees because of the resurrection on the last day is contrasted with the understanding of Sheol, a holding tank, by the Sadducees. Paul reminds the Thessalonians to live in God’s grace so that word of the Lord may be glorified by actions that are more convincing than words. Friar Jude notes that as we approach the end of the Church year, end of life themes begin to dominate.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, reflects on Jesus’ inclusivity, which has allowed him both to affirm and critique his own religious tradition—and invites us to do the same. The Second Vatican Council gave Catholics some fine official guidelines and freedoms. Nostra Aetate, the 1965 Catholic document on non-Christian religions affirms, “For all peoples comprise a single community, and have a single origin . . . one also is their final goal: God. [God’s] providence, manifestations of goodness, and saving designs extend to all [people].” [1] Such an affirmation rightly places us all inside the same frame of history and allows no foundational distinction between us. We are clearly from the one God, tending toward the one God, and as the mystics of all religions teach, Reality itself is one.
What is unique about Jesus is his inclusivity itself! He is so grounded in the absoluteness of the Divine relationship that he is quite free to relativize the Law, simplify the Prophets, and find God outside of his own tradition. He is constantly and consistently inclusive—without denying his Jewish foundation and faith. I believe we can only be inclusive when we have a deeply held and shared experience that we can include people “into.” We have to have a “home” to bring people home to.
What the world wants, and people need, are people who believe in Something—Something that will lead them to the good, the beautiful, the true, and the universal. (Rohr, 2022)
We are guided by the Spirit as we affirm our experiences of the goodness, beauty, and truth that connect with eternal life.
References
Luke, CHAPTER 20. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/20?27
Mason, M. (n.d.). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/110622.html
Meditation on Luke 20:27-38. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://wau.org/meditations/2022/11/06/527782/
Psalms, PSALM 17. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/17?1
Rohr, R. (2022, November 6). Only Love Is Absolute — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/only-love-is-absolute-2022-11-06/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture ... Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2022&date=nov6
2 Maccabees, CHAPTER 7. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2maccabees/7?1
2 Thessalonians, CHAPTER 2. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2thessalonians/2?16
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