RESURRECTION: THE HOPE OF CHRISTIANS

REFLECTION FOR 32ND SUNDAY OF YEAR C

*THEME: RESURRECTION: THE HOPE OF CHRISTIANS

R1: Maccabees 7:1-2.9-14

R2: 2 Thes 2:16-3:5

Gospel: 20: 27-38

We are gradually approaching the end of this year’s liturgical season, the readings prepare our minds towards what we hope for at the end of our earthly life; resurrection from the dead. It is to this that we Christians anchor our hope, that just as the Lord died and resurrected, so too will he bring to life all those who are his followers.

As we think about resurrection, it may be surprising to know that centuries before the coming of Christ, Israel never believed there was anything like resurrection from the dead until about about 500 BC with the prophecy of Ezekiel about the dry bones that shall rise again (Ezk 37: 1-14)  and later 170 BC, with the prophecy of Daniel on the reawakening of those who have fallen asleep the land of dust (Dn 12:2). 

Even with these prophecies and the growing belief in the resurrection, in Israel, many of them, especially the elites doubted the resurrection. This led to the two camps of Judaism; Pharisees and Sadducees. The Pharisees believe in the resurrection from the dead, angels and spirits but the Sadducees do not believe in any of these. The Sadducees were more of the wealthy people, the leading class and in fact the   chief priests were in this camp, hence, it was offensive and nonsensical to tell them not to enjoy life and the abundance of their wealth all in the name that they will be resurrected at last. They thought everything about life ends here therefore they should eat and drink and after everyone will die away.

To make nonsense of what Jesus was preaching, they put up the question of the possibility of resurrection to him, after narrating the story of the seven brothers who were married to the same woman. They asked Jesus, “at the resurrection, whose wife will the woman be since she was married to the seven brothers?” (Lk 20:33)

Jesus’ response gives us a clue of what resurrection from the dead is like: 

1. Resurrection is not a continuation of one's previous life but a totally different one. That is why in the present life one can marry but in the life to come there is no marriage (Lk 20:34-35). It is a new life. It is a life in God. However, the nature of this life is hidden from us in this present life.

2. Even though we can’t say exactly how life with God will be like, we are sure that in the resurrection from the dead we shall continue to live (an unending life) just like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who though have died but still live in God.

However, there are conditions we must fulfill before we can partake in this life after. Part of these conditions is summarized in the experience of seven brothers in the first reading, who were arrested by the wicked king, Antiocus, and were forced to deny their faith by eating pork meat which was forbidden in their religion. They stood firm even to the point of death in defense of their faith and God. Just like them, we must be persistent in defense of our faith and firm in the time of persecution; for “Blessed are those who are persecuted in the cause of right: there is the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 5:10).

Another condition is this: since we are sure that resurrection from the dead comes from the Lord alone, just like St Paul encourages in the second reading, we must preach this gospel to the ends of the earth and bring to the awareness of all that life only comes from God. While we preach this gospel, we must always pray to God to preserve from the clutches of the devil who moves about like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. And finally, we must pray that God should grant us the gift of salvation by resurrecting us, when the time comes.

Rev Fr. Chukwuemeka Vincent Livinus, SMMM.