32 Sunday Year C

20:34–36 Jesus gives a two-part answer. First, he rebuts their argument by pointing out that life in the coming age is not the same as life now, as they are assuming. It does not involve marriage.....The further description that they are the ones who will rise is more literally translated “they are children of the resurrection” (NIV). Jesus’ words also imply that not all attain to this blessing, so people, including the Sadducees questioning him, should focus on doing what is necessary to be deemed worthy by God to receive it.

20:37–38 Second, Jesus shows that the resurrection of the dead is indeed taught by the law of Moses, thus arguing on the basis of the authority the Sadducees accepted. At the burning bush, the Lord revealed himself to Moses as the God of the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (, ). Though they died centuries before Moses, to God they are living. He is not God of the dead, which means that belief in the resurrection is actually necessary for having a proper understanding of God....... If Abraham is alive, as the parable about Lazarus also assumes (), there must be some “intermediate state,” as Christian teaching has affirmed with respect to the immortal soul (Catechism 1023).

The Gospel of Luke The Sadducees’ Question about the Resurrection (20:27–40)

20:34–36 Jesus gives a two-part answer. First, he rebuts their argument by pointing out that life in the coming age is not the same as life now, as they are assuming. It does not involve marriage. The purpose of the levirate law, besides providing for the widow, was that “the name of the deceased” would continue through a descendant (Deut 25:6). However, in the resurrection of the dead, people are like angels in that they can no longer die, so there is no need for marriage to perpetuate one’s name. So, whereas the children of this age marry (Luke 17:27), those in “eternal life” (18:30) are characterized above all by their relationship with God: they are children of God. The further description that they are the ones who will rise is more literally translated “they are children of the resurrection” (NIV). Jesus’ words also imply that not all attain to this blessing, so people, including the Sadducees questioning him, should focus on doing what is necessary to be deemed worthy by God to receive it.

20:37–38 Second, Jesus shows that the resurrection of the dead is indeed taught by the law of Moses, thus arguing on the basis of the authority the Sadducees accepted. At the burning bush, the Lord revealed himself to Moses as the God of the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Exod 3:6, 15–16). Though they died centuries before Moses, to God they are living. He is not God of the dead, which means that belief in the resurrection is actually necessary for having a proper understanding of God.

But how are they alive? The resurrection of the body has not yet taken place, as the Sadducees could point out by referring to the cave of Machpelah in Hebron, where the patriarchs were buried (Gen 49:31; 50:13), for which Herod the Great had constructed a massive enclosure that still stands. Hence, if Abraham is alive, as the parable about Lazarus also assumes (Luke 16:19–31), there must be some “intermediate state,” as Christian teaching has affirmed with respect to the immortal soul (Catechism 1023).

But how are they alive? The resurrection of the body has not yet taken place, as the Sadducees could point out by referring to the cave of Machpelah in Hebron, where the patriarchs were buried (; ), for which Herod the Great had constructed a massive enclosure that still stands. Hence, if Abraham is alive, as the parable about Lazarus also assumes (), there must be some “intermediate state,” as Christian teaching has affirmed with respect to the immortal soul (Catechism 1023).

Gadenz, P. T. (2018). The Gospel of Luke. (P. S. Williamson & M. Healy, Eds.) (pp. 340–341). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic: A Division of Baker Publishing Group.

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS

What are your hopes for the future? A better job, bigger office, nicer house, more money? Those things are fine—but very transient. The Christian’s ultimate hope is heaven. People in affluent circumstances, including Christians, tend to forget that. Their lives are very comfortable here, so they tend to focus on enjoying it to the neglect of setting their sights on eternity. The Sadducees were guilty of this, as well. Life was very comfortable for them, so they weren’t concerned with the afterlife. Their question about the woman and her seven husbands wasn’t a serious inquiry about resurrection; it was designed to show the ridiculousness of the whole idea of resurrection. The same is true today—rich people don’t write many great spirituals. Where is your heart—on the good things of this world or on the eternal things of the world to come?

Barton, B. B., Veerman, D., Taylor, L. C., & Osborne, G. R. (1997). Luke (p. 461). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers

The inference to be drawn from this doctrine is plain. Among the wise men of the heathen, as I have said, it was usual to speak slightingly and contemptuously of the mortal body; they knew no better. They thought it scarcely a part of their real selves, and fancied they should be in a better condition without it. Nay, they considered it to be the cause of their sinning; as if the soul of man were pure, and the material body were gross, and defiled the soul. We have been taught the truth, viz. that sin is a disease of our minds, of ourselves; and that the whole of us, not body alone, but soul and body, is naturally corrupt, and that Christ has redeemed and cleansed whatever we are, sinful soul and body. Accordingly their chief hope in death was the notion they should be rid of their body. Feeling they were sinful, and not knowing how, they laid the charge on their body; and knowing they were badly circumstanced here, they thought death perchance might be a change for the better. Not that they rested on the hope of returning to a God and Father, but they thought to be unshackled from the earth, and able to do what they would. It was consistent with this slighting of their earthly tabernacle, that they burned the dead bodies of their friends, not burying them as we do, but consuming them as a mere worthless case of what had been precious, and was then an incumbrance to the ground. Far different is the temper which the glorious light of the Gospel teaches us. Our bodies shall rise again and live for ever; they may not be irreverently handled.

Newman, J. H. (1868). Parochial and plain sermons (Vol. 1, pp. 275–276). London; Oxford; Cambridge: Rivingtons.

St Catherine of Genoa writes: No one is barred from heaven. Whoever wants to enter heaven may do so because God is all-merciful. Our Lord will welcome us into glory with his arms wide open. The Almighty is so pure, however, that if a person is conscious of the least trace of imperfection and at the same time understands that Purgatory is ordained to do away with such impediments, the soul enters this place of purification glad to accept so great a mercy of God. The worst suffering of these suffering souls is to have sinned against divine Goodness and not to have been purified in this life.

In Purgatory the soul experiences very intense suffering due to a kind of flame more painful than anything a man can suffer in this life. (St. Augustine)

Through the Communion of Saints our great allies in Purgatory can help us too. The holy souls in Purgatory. Out of charity, out of justice, and out of excusable selfishness (they have such power with God!) remember them often in your sacrifices and in your prayers. May you be able to say when you speak of them, ‘My good friends, the souls in Purgatory.’ (St. Josemaria)

Pain, sickness and suffering are all excellent means permitted by the Lord – they can be a grace – to make reparation for personal sin.

Fernandez, Francis. In Conversation with God – Volume 7 Part 2: Special Feasts: October – December . Scepter (UK) Ltd. Kindle Edition.

Fernandez, Francis. In Conversation with God – Volume 7 Part 2: Special Feasts: October – December . Scepter (UK) Ltd. Kindle Edition.

Fernandez, Francis. In Conversation with God – Volume 7 Part 2: Special Feasts: October – December . Scepter (UK) Ltd. Kindle Edition.

Fernandez, Francis. In Conversation with God – Volume 7 Part 2: Special Feasts: October – December . Scepter (UK) Ltd. Kindle Edition.