Thirty-second Sunday of Ordinary Time (C) [Lk 20:27-38]
06.11.2022
The Question about the Resurrection of the Dead
1. Theme in brief
Our faith in resurrection of the dead and eternal life
2. Focus Statement
Our faith in the resurrection of the dead and eternal life is based on the very nature of God we believe in; our God is a God of the living and not of the dead and he shares his own life with us which is eternal.
3. Explanation of the text
Today’s gospel tries to answer the most difficult question of our faith, namely whether there is life after death, and if yes, what sort of life it is going to be. Jesus answers this question in the context of the challenge thrown at him by the Sadducees (who do not believe in resurrection) to solve a fictitious and improbable case. Based on the prescription of the OT (Deut 25:5-6) which allows a widow to marry her husband’s brother if he dies childless, they bring a made-up story of a widow who married seven brothers who were childless. They want to know whose wife she will be in the resurrection of the dead (20:29-33). Their intention was either to pressurize Jesus to give up faith in the resurrection of the dead, or accuse him of encouraging polyandry (that is, one woman marrying several husbands).
Two things become clear in Jesus’ explanation: (1) Life after death and resurrection of the dead is absolutely certain, but it is not like resuscitation (that is, regaining of life by an unconscious person). It is not a prolongation of the earthly existence but totally a different kind of existence. The resurrected life is not going to be like physical or social life of humans that requires eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage (20:35). Further, the differences of sex, state of life, kinship, etc., have no relevance in the resurrected life. It is absurd to think of procreation in heaven since they cannot die any more (20:36). Life after death will be a spiritual life (like angels, 20:36); it is a participation in God’s own divine life.
(2) Secondly, our faith in the resurrection of the dead is based on the very nature of God we believe in. Our God is a God of the living and not of the dead (20:38). This can be deduced from the fact that Moses himself had heard God telling him in the incident of the burning bush (Ex 3:1-6): “I am the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” He did not say, “I was the God,” but “I am the God.” This shows that these three patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) are still living (20:38). Otherwise, how can God relate himself with the dead patriarchs?
4. Application to life
Today’s gospel affirms and confirms our faith in after-life and resurrection of the dead. But what are its implications for our life? [Please choose whichever point you like from the following:]
(1) God entered into a personal relationship with us both when he created us in the flesh and re-created us at our Baptism. The Bible says, in the beginning God created us in his own image and breathed his own breath into us (Gen 1:26; 2:7). When he e-created us at baptism, he established an intimate relationship with us by making us sharers of his own divine life. If so, how can such a life be snapped with death? In other words, death cannot snap the divine life (which is immortal) he breathed into us at the time of creation; more so when he re-created those who believe in his Son (at baptism) by making them sharers of his own eternal and divine life. Just as God has no end, so also the life he has given us. If there would have been nothing after death, God’s love would have ended in a failure.
(2) Faith in eternal life gives us the motivation to live our earthly life as best as possible, because it is a preparation for eternal life with God. This thought should motivate us to lead a qualitatively different type of life – a life different from merely working, earning, eating, drinking and making merry. Quality of life is not measured by the quality of our goods, furnishing, machinery and latest electronic gadgets, but by the quality of our love, service, dedication and relationships. What is the use if the quality of our material goods goes higher and higher every year and the quality of our relationships goes lower and lower? We should not be satisfied with mere physical existence, but have a passion (a strong feeling or commitment) for life, peace, truth, etc. We are here to find fulfilment, to be happy (joyful), to radiate love, to love with a passion, and to share that love. If we do not live a life of purpose, and do not live it enthusiastically; we should be guilty of living a wasted life.
(3) Faith in eternal life always reminds us of the impermanence of earthly life. This thought should make us realize the meanness or foolishness of getting excessively attached to worldly possessions, and putting our full trust in them, instead of God who alone is our security. Considering the shortness of our earthly life, we have to wage a continuous war against evil and ungodly ways, and always be prepared to meet the Lord whenever he calls us. Our participation in the death and resurrection of Christ begun at baptism spurs us to go on dying constantly to our sinfulness and selfishness, so that we can fully participate in his resurrection at our death. Our faith in the power of Christ’s resurrection enables us to invoke its power when forces of death (such as calamities, trials, temptations, loss of job or loved ones) close in on us.
(4) Faith in immortality gives us a tremendous hope that all our suffering, sorrow, pain and struggles will not be in vain. As
(5) Faith in life after death puts us in constant communion with those who have died marked with the sign of faith. As Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are living, all the faithful departed are also spiritually living with us. But as Jesus has explained in today’s gospel, they do not possess a physical body like us. They are like angels and their spiritual bodies do not require from us any offering of food and drink for their survival. Since our union with them is essentially spiritual, we express it by praying for them and offering the Eucharistic Sacrifice for their repose. The saints in heaven also keep up this spiritual relationship with us by continually interceding with God on our behalf.
(6) Our faith in eternal life and resurrection of the body should lead us to uphold the preciousness of life, since it continues for eternity. If human life has such a great destiny, we must be committed to defend it whenever it is degraded, threatened and not respected. Our mission is to respect, save, promote and protect life. We can do it by upholding the supreme value of life, especially of the poor, the marginalized and the voiceless; instilling hope in hopeless situations; becoming sensitive towards forces of death around us; helping people to sustain in moments of trial; imparting life through our compassion and care.
5. Response to God's Word
What is the aim of our life? Do we believe in the power of Christ’s resurrection and invoke it when forces of death close in on us? Are we satisfied with mere physical existence, or do we have a passion to enhance our own and others’ quality of life? How can we be persons whose enthusiasm for life never dies? What makes us lively and what makes us cold? Do so many people have to please us? Does our hope in eternal life help us to cope with crises and problems of life? What is our commitment to the cause of human life?
6. A Prayer
Thank you, Lord, for entering into a personal and unending relationship with us both at our creation and re-creation at Baptism. May our faith in eternal life give us the motivation to enhance the quality of our earthly life. Grant that we may live our life enthusiastically and may not be found guilty of living a wasted life. As we acknowledge the impermanence of our life, we firmly believe that our security is in you alone. Increase our hope in your promises so that it can help us to cope with the problems of life. Grant that we may uphold the value and preciousness of every person’s life. Amen.
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