First Reading Commentary
As we're just a few weeks away from the start
of the Advent Season this Reading, although written before the birth of Christ,
contains Christian ideals: namely, being a disciple of the Lord at all costs
and the belief in the resurrection.
Hopefully none of us will ever be put to death because of our faith but
even putting aside the fact that these men were about to be martyred, this Reading
offers a lesson about how to become instruments of the Almighty by abandoning
our ways and embracing His ways. As
these men express a belief in being raised from the dead and living forever,
they probably have no idea that God has used them to prophesy the coming of
Christ. Most likely they are expecting
their resurrection to come from the workings of the One Creator God and are
clueless to the fact that they are prophesying about what will later be
revealed as the Triune God; and the second Person of the Triune God would
reveal Himself through the Incarnation and as Man He would destroy death
forever; and through Him is the hope of resurrection for all.
It is only those who have lived after
Christ's Resurrection and those of us who are currently living our earthly
existence that can fully appreciate the magnitude of the statements made by
these men in this Reading. God's words
today can still be heard through the voice of others. Has anyone ever said anything to you that was
an answer to a prayer? Has anyone ever
been at the right place and the right time whose presence turned your tough
situation into a pleasant memory? Have
you ever said anything to someone which turned out to be an answer to their
prayer? Chances are the answer is yes to
all three questions even if you don't recall or were not apprised by the other
party that you were an answer to their prayer.
It's easy to get
caught up in our busy lives and completely miss the workings of God. But these are the kinds of things that God does
through us when we simply say yes to Him.
Occasionally, spoken words seem to be insignificant for the moment; and
then somewhere down the road those words have extraordinary relevance. Frequently reflecting on the Power within us
can all the more enrich our spiritual life.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to meet a prophet? If so, look in a mirror or look at the person
sitting next to you at Mass.
Second Reading Commentary
The human heart bears a tremendous burden. Sacred Scripture tells us that God judges by
the heart alone (cf. 1 Samuel 16:7). In this Reading, Saint Paul's prayer for us
is that our Lord will encourage our hearts and strengthen them in every good
deed and word.
In the oldest Catholic translation of
Scripture in English, the Douay-Rheims version, the word "heart" or a
derivative of it appears there 1,067 times.
What an interesting piece of apparatus God has given us in the human
heart! It is capable of expressing a
mixed bag of emotions. Quite often the
battle between good and evil takes place within our own hearts. The human heart has more to it than we can
fully comprehend; and because of this its importance can never be
underestimated. Why else would God want
permission from us to take complete possession of it? When God holds our hearts in the Palm of His
Hand so much good can from it - the impossible becomes very possible. But when the door of the heart is slammed shut,
leaving God on the outside, it is capable of concocting unspeakable evils. Prejudices, dislikes, pure hatred and
harboring anger are negative forces that could dwell within our hearts because
in our human weakness we find it very difficult to let our Lord be its Master. There is always that part of us that desires
to be our own boss. And even when we attempt
to let God take charge, the serpent is always there whispering in our ears that
what our Lord promises simply isn't true.
Cultivating a humble heart will breed sympathy and understanding for one
another's weaknesses.
Prayer is the best defense against the one
who is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. May we continue to pray for a complete
conversion of our hearts: "Iesu,
mitis et humilis Corde, fac cor nostrum secundum Cor tuum" – (Jesus,
meek and humble of Heart, make our hearts like unto Thine).
Gospel Commentary
It's quite obvious that the Sadducees are
attempting to make a complete mockery of Jesus.
They are asking Him to teach how multiple marriages will fare in the
resurrected state even though the Sadducees have no belief in a
resurrection.
As Christians, we are able to look beyond
the horizons of earthly existence and know perfection is waiting for us even
though the meaning of perfection in an eternal state is indecipherable: "Eye
has not seen, nor ear heard: neither has it entered into the heart of man, what
things God has prepared for those that love Him" (1 Corinthians 2:9).
What Jesus makes clear, though, is that
conjugal love will not exist in the resurrected life. In heaven we will find out and perhaps be
downright shocked by how limited and conditional is the love we offer in this world. Married love, creating a new family, love for
our children and love for parents is just about the fullest extent of love that
human beings can currently comprehend.
Does anyone really understand the kind of love that would make Love
Himself die to save all of humanity - past, present and future? In the sacred bond of married life, considering
the elimination of conjugal love in the afterlife right now might seem
disappointing because we don't understand how unflawed and beautiful Love is in
heaven which is also coupled with an equal inexplicability of how limited the
love is we currently share.
Our faith and our hope can imaginatively
transport us to something better but our imaginations cannot conjure up the
infinite reality of God's love. In heaven,
our royal priesthood will be exercised in unmarred proficiency as we offer
worship, praise and adoration to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit for all
eternity.
In Saint John's Gospel Jesus says: "The
Father and I are One" (John 10:30). It is this transforming union of God and
humanity that so few experience in the here and now but most assuredly all who
love God will experience in the hereafter.
