them will be regarded as the child of the deceased.’ Now, there were seven brothers: the first
married, but died without children. The second married the woman, but also died childless.
And then the third married her, and in this same way all seven died, leaving no children. Last of
all the woman died. On the day of the resurrection, to which of them will the woman be a wife?
For all seven had her as a wife.” And Jesus replied, “Taking a husband or a wife is proper
to people of this world, but for those who are considered worthy of the world to come, and of
resurrection from the dead, there is no more marriage. Besides, they cannot die, for they are
like the angels. They are sons and daughters of God, because they are born of the resurrection.
Yes, the dead will be raised, as Moses revealed at the burning bush, when he called the Lord
the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. For God is God of the living,
and not of the dead, for to him everyone is alive.” “They are sons and daughters of God,
because they are born of the resurrection.”
Read:
In the book of Maccabees, we read the stunning story of the witness of faith by seven brothers.
St. Paul ensures us that the Lord is faithful and he will strengthen us and keep us safe from the
evil one. Sadducees try to trap Jesus on the question of resurrection of souls using the case of
a woman married to seven brothers.
Reflect:
The Sadducees clearly did not believe in the resurrection. But even those who believe – that
may include us as well – often think of heaven and hell in terms of earthly life and architecture.
Jesus makes two assertions today: (a) That the resurrection of the dead is a reality, for God is
a God of the living. (b) That the life in the resurrection is not like anything that we have
experienced here on earth. As St. Paul says elsewhere, what God has prepared for us are
things that human eyes have not seen nor ears heard and are beyond the imagination of
human hearts. That is something pretty exciting to look forward to, provided we make a
radical option for God.
Pray:
“Lord, I believe in the resurrection of the body and life everlasting.”
Act:
Over lunch or dinner, discuss with your family/community our faith in the resurrection.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2022
