LIFE AFTER DEATH A CHRISTIAN REALITY

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Theme: Living in Hope 10-11-13 1st Reading Mac 7:1-2,7a,9-14 persecution of the Jews as a memory to the Jews’ symbolic martyrdom. 2nd Reading 2nd Thes 2:16, 3:5 Paul reminds the Thessalonians to do what is good. Gospel Luke 20:27-38 Jesus disproves the Sadducees’ misconception, ‘life after death’. We have been witnesses to scientific progress in preserving life. In creating life. In giving longevity to life. We have seen how hearts have been replaced, eyes have been replaced, cut limbs have been joined back. Destroyed features have been restored to beauty. All this is a sign of medical progress in giving man some hope in this world of ours. In doing this can we see any new dimensions in increasing hope in human need for peace, joy, love, unity, harmony and other values which are most essential for a Christian living? This is brought to real meaning only by one Person Jesus our redeemer who came from the father to reveal the reality of heaven, which is not seen by any one except him. We are nearing the end of one cycle in the liturgical year in the church’s life. As the Cycle C is coming to a close. The readings also remind the Christian believer about the end time. Our life is not just for today. It is meant for the life to come. We live in hope to be united with the creator who has not only given us life but also given us faith not because of our goodness but because of his generosity. We have read and reread the book of Maccabees. Their courage against the pagan king who wanted them to blaspheme and say evil against their only God. Their courage even to face death willingly is praise worthy for they have shown life does not end here and now but it is a continuation of God’s love even after death. In the second reading the love of Paul to Thessalonians is so great he encourages them to be faithful to a God who has been good to them. He even asks them to pray for each other’s welfare. Gospel is a reminder how the Sadducees and the leaders of the Jewish people wanted to trap Jesus Jesus is very aware of his forthcoming imminent death. The whole discourse between the Sadducees and Jesus is a reminder how they try to involve him through his death into their own legal complication. The Levirate law permitted the dead brother’s wife to marry the living one. This was the custom in the Jewish law. Here Jesus is being trapped into this legal tangle. But Jesus is cleaver. He knows the law and he tries to tell these ignorant leaders the death is like the one not according to their belief. After death the dead do not have a physical being like the one they imagine. It is a living being like that of the Angels. They were familiar with that idea even though they might have not seen an angel but the existence of angels was not disputed by them This traps them in their own argument. Sadducees were well versed in law. They could not be defeated in it’s knowledge. That is the reason they look so confident to defeat Jesus in seeking his opinion about the marriage after resurrection. Jesus is able to trap them in their own argument and defeat them in their own question. Today let us realize when people advertise the goodness of small family by saying to use so many banned versions of family planning. By encouraging people to resort to abortion to avoid unwanted pregnancy. To kill old people because they are burden on the young. Where are we heading we as Christians must be honest in living our vocation to be light way and truth. Life has lost it’s sublimity. It has become cheap, terrorists using living being to create terror and using suicidal living bombs to bring their values to reality. So many unwanted babies being murdered. Even some holy people cooperating in this evil venture. Where are we leading our life to? Can we bring some novelty to life we propose people to live? Have we the courage and confidence to do this like Jesus? In union with the divine word, Fr.Juze Vaz svd