November 6, 2016 Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Second Book of Maccabees 7:1-2,9-14, Second Letter of St. Paul to the Thessalonians 2:16-3:5, Gospel of Luke 20:27-38
In this chapter of Luke the Sadducees are questioning Jesus’ authority. The gospel of Luke often sheds a bad light on the Sadducees and Pharisees but aren’t we like them in some respects? Aren’t there times when we question Jesus’s authority in our own lives,especially about the mission Jesus places before us? Whether that mission is to evangelize, or to feed the hungry, or to visit the sick, or tithe a certain percentage to the church, or perhaps volunteer in some capacity for the church, we question it. “Why me? I don’t know if I have the time or the money to spare.” It seems easier to walk away then to walk toward a mission that may demand something of us.
Questioning is a healthy part of our faith development. At some point in our lives most of us take a look at our beliefs and values that were previously unexamined and reflect on what we hold to be true. In doing this we are able to integrate what we know, what we believe, and what we will have to take on faith, and we will profess it as our own. We use words to speak our beliefs to others and our good deeds or mission comes from our commitment to these beliefs that we hold to be true.
Have we ever questioned what Jesus is calling us to believe? In this particular passage the Sadducees are questioning Jesus about the resurrection. The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection so they challenged Jesus about this. He tells them in very clear terms that there is a resurrection. He states of those who are deemed worthy to attain the coming age;“They can no longer die, for they are like angels; and they are the children of God because they are the ones who will rise. That the dead will rise even Moses made known . . .” As disciples we are called to believe and share these truths, as St. Paul tells the Thessalonians, so that the word of the Lord may speed forward and be glorified.
As believers in Christ may we pray as St Paul, “May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting encouragement and good hope through his grace, encourage your hearts and strengthen them in every good deed and word.”
Reflective Questions:
Can you remember a time when you started to examine your beliefs? Where has that led you on your faith journey?
What do you think about the resurrection from the dead? What do you envision this will look like?
What are some of the truths that you believe in? And what actions or mission have these beliefs led you to perform or take part in?