Dear sisters and brothers, Be reminded that there is life after this life. Stand up for your faith to the point of getting hurt, like the Maccabean family. Fr. Cielo

1. Welcome to our Bible Study
32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time C
November 10, 2013
In preparation for this Sunday’s liturgy
As view in focusing our homilies and sharing
Prepared by Fr. Cielo R. Almazan,
OFM

2. 1st reading: 2 Maccabees 7,1-2.9-14
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
1 It happened that seven brothers with their mother were arrested and
tortured with whips and scourges by the king, to force them to eat pork
in violation of God's law. 2 One of the brothers, speaking for the
others, said: "What do you expect to achieve by questioning us? We
are ready to die rather than transgress the laws of our ancestors."
9 At the point of death he said: "You accursed fiend, you are depriving
us of this present life, but the King of the world will raise us up to live
again forever. It is for his laws that we are dying." 10 After him the
third suffered their cruel sport. He put out his tongue at once when told
to do so, and bravely held out his hands, 11 as he spoke these noble
words: "It was from Heaven that I received these; for the sake of his
laws I disdain them; from him I hope to receive them again." 12 Even
the king and his attendants marveled at the young man's courage,
because he regarded his sufferings as nothing. 13 After he had died,
they tortured and maltreated the fourth brother in the same way. 14
When he was near death, he said, "It is my choice to die at the hands
of men with the God-given hope of being restored to life by him; but for
you, there will be no resurrection to life."
The focus is on the resurrection of the dead.

3. 1st reading: 2 Maccabees 7,1-2.9-14
A simple outline!
Readiness to die rather than violate the law
 1 It happened that seven brothers with their mother were arrested and
tortured with whips and scourges by the king, to force them to eat pork
in violation of God's law. 2 One of the brothers, speaking for the
others, said: "What do you expect to achieve by questioning us? We
are ready to die rather than transgress the laws of our ancestors."
The belief in the resurrection
 9 At the point of death he said: "You accursed fiend, you are depriving
us of this present life, but the King of the world will raise us up to live
again forever. It is for his laws that we are dying."
 10 After him the third suffered their cruel sport. He put out his tongue
at once when told to do so, and bravely held out his hands, 11 as he
spoke these noble words: "It was from Heaven that I received these;
for the sake of his laws I disdain them; from him I hope to receive them
again." 12 Even the king and his attendants marveled at the young
man's courage, because he regarded his sufferings as nothing.
 13 After he had died, they tortured and maltreated the fourth brother in
the same way. 14 When he was near death, he said, "It is my choice
to die at the hands of men with the God-given hope of being restored
to life by him; but for you, there will be no resurrection to life."

4. Textual Context of 2 Macc 7,1-2.9-14
Part One 2 Macc 1,1—2,18 Two Letters to the Jews in Egypt
Part Two 2 Macc 2,19—10,9 Account by Jason up to the
Dedication of the Temple by Judas in 164 BC
Part Three 2 Macc 10,10—15,39 Remainder of Judas’ life up to
victory over Nicanor, Syrian general, in 160 BC

5. 1st reading: 2 Maccabees 7,1-2.9-14
Readiness to die
rather than violate
the law
 1 It happened that
seven brothers with
their mother were
arrested and tortured
with whips and
scourges by the king, to
force them to eat pork in
violation of God's law. 2
One of the brothers,
speaking for the others,
said: "What do you
expect to achieve by
questioning us? We are
ready to die rather than
transgress the laws of
our ancestors."
Commentary
 This book is considered deuterocanonical,
not in the list of the proto-canonical books of
the Hebrew Bible.
 It is found in the Septuagint (Greek
translation of the Hebrew Bible).
 The Septuagint was the bible of the Greekspeaking Jews.
 The book responds to the difficult situation
of the pious Jews, who were forced to
practice paganism imposed by the
Hellenists (Greeks).
 The text is about the preference to die rather
than violate the law.
 V.1 indicates how a family suffers from
persecution (arrest / torture); they refuse to
eat pork.
 In v.2, the law is not just the law obtaining at
present, but the law of their ancestors. The
present generation is connected to the past
generation through the practice of the law.
(culture)

6. 1st reading: 2 Maccabees 7,1-2.9-14
The belief in the resurrection

9 At the point of death he said: "You
accursed fiend, you are depriving us
of this present life, but the King of the
world will raise us up to live again
forever. It is for his laws that we are
dying."

10 After him the third suffered their
cruel sport. He put out his tongue at
once when told to do so, and bravely
held out his hands, 11 as he spoke
these noble words: "It was from
Heaven that I received these; for the
sake of his laws I disdain them; from
him I hope to receive them again."
12 Even the king and his attendants
marveled at the young man's
courage, because he regarded his
sufferings as nothing.

13 After he had died, they tortured
and maltreated the fourth brother in
the same way. 14 When he was
near death, he said, "It is my choice
to die at the hands of men with the
God-given hope of being restored to
life by him; but for you, there will be
no resurrection to life."





V.9, the second son affirms their
faith in the resurrection. God (king
of the world) will raise them up.
V.9 indicates the resurrection as a
reason for their willingness to die
rather than violate a law.
In vv.10-12, the third brother
displays his heroism. He
considers his sufferings as
nothing. This gets attention from
the king and his aides.
In vv.13-14, the fourth brother
suffers the same fate. He is willing
to die because he believes in the
resurrection (restoration to life).
The fourth brother warns that
there is no resurrection for the
torturers.

7. Reflections on the 1st reading




Seldom do we hear a story of a whole family willing to die
for rather than violate a law.
Today, we rather violate the law than die. Life is more
important than following laws (God-made or man-made).
For those who are settled with violating laws in order to
survive, we can draw a lesson from the story.
The members of the Maccabean family are giving a strong
statement to their enemies, to their fellow Jews, and to us
at the present time:


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It is better to die with dignity and honor than to live devoid of
principles. (laws, traditions, culture)
God will vindicate our observance, by raising us up.
The reading encourages people to continue fighting for
their faith and principles in the face of death.
It pays not to compromise faith with what contradicts it.
What legacy can we give to our children?

8. Resp. Ps 17:1, 5-6, 8, 15
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
R. (15b) Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full.
1 Hear, O LORD, a just suit;
attend to my outcry;
hearken to my prayer from lips without deceit.
5 My steps have been steadfast in your paths,
my feet have not faltered.
6 I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
incline your ear to me; hear my word.
8 Keep me as the apple of your eye,
hide me in the shadow of your wings.
15 But I in justice shall behold your face;
on waking I shall be content in your presence.

9. Resp. Ps 17:1, 5-6, 8, 15



R. (15b) Lord, when your glory
appears, my joy will be full.
1 Hear, O LORD, a just suit;
attend to my outcry;
hearken to my prayer from lips without
deceit.
5 My steps have been steadfast in your
paths, my feet have not faltered.
6 I call upon you, for you will answer me,
O God; incline your ear to me; hear my
word.
8 Keep me as the apple of your eye,
hide me in the shadow of your wings.
15 But I in justice shall behold your face;
on waking I shall be content in your
presence.
Commentary
In v.1, the psalmist prays to God in
parallel form: Hear, O Lord //
attend // hearken to my prayer.
V.5 represents the prayer of the
Maccabean brothers, steadfast in
faith under persecution. (parallelism:
my steps... // my feet…)
V.6 is parallel to v.1. Again in
parallel forms: you will answer //
incline your ear // hear my word.
V.8 uses a simile: “as the apple of
your eye.”
In v.15, the psalmist expresses his
hope in parallel form: I shall behold
your face // I shall be content in your
presence.

10. Reflections on the Psalm



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

We, too, can be persecuted because of our faith.
Our loved ones can taunt us because we go to church, we
read the Bible, we join religious organizations, and we
spend more time with the fellow church workers.
Others simply persecute us because they don’t appreciate
our faith. They destroy our images, they stir arguments to
confuse us, they demonize whatever we hold dear in our
faith and devotion.
We must take the Maccabean brothers as icon of faith.
To make a strong statement like them, we must not make
any compromise, or, many compromises for convenience’s
sake.
Every time we live our faith, we are disturbing the
unbelievers.

11. 2nd reading: 2 Thessalonians 2,16—3,5

16 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God
our Father, who has loved us and given us
everlasting encouragement and good hope
through his grace, 17 encourage your hearts and
strengthen them in every good deed and word.
3:1 Finally, brothers, pray for us, so that the word
of the Lord may speed forward and be glorified,
nt.
e
em we may be
as it did among you, 2 and that
ag
ur
o
delivered from perverse and wicked people, for
nc
ne
not all have faith. 3 But othe Lord is faithful; he will
s
si
cu
strengthen you andfoguard you from the evil one.
e
Th
4 We are confident of you in the Lord that what
we instruct you, you (both) are doing and will
continue to do. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts
to the love of God and to the endurance of Christ.

12. 2nd reading: 2 Thessalonians 2,16—3,5
A simple outline.
Wish of Paul to the Thessalonians
 16 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father,
who has loved us and given us everlasting encouragement
and good hope through his grace, 17 encourage your
hearts and strengthen them in every good deed and word.
Desire of Paul to the Thessalonians
 3:1 Finally, brothers, pray for us, so that the word of the
Lord may speed forward and be glorified, as it did among
you, 2 and that we may be delivered from perverse and
wicked people, for not all have faith.
Concern of Paul to the Thessalonians
 3 But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard
you from the evil one.
 4 We are confident of you in the Lord that what we instruct
you, you (both) are doing and will continue to do. 5 May
the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God
and to the endurance of Christ.

13. Textual Context of 2 Thess 2,16—3,5
I
II
Opening Formula 1,1-2
Test of Persecution Leading to the Lord’s Glory in
Judgment 1,3-12
A. Thanksgiving 1,3-10
B. Prayer 1,11-12
III Proper Understanding of the Parousia 2,1-17
A. The Lord’s Triumph over Deception 2,1-15
B. Prayer for Strengthening 2,16-17
IV Two Sets of Closing Exhortations and Prayers 3,1—5,6-16
V Final Greetings 3,17-18

14. 2nd reading: 2 Thessalonians 2,16—3,5
Wish of Paul to the
Thessalonians

16 May our Lord Jesus Christ
himself and God our Father,
who has loved us and given us
everlasting encouragement and
good hope through his grace,
17 encourage your hearts and
strengthen them in every good
deed and word.
Desire of Paul from the
Thessalonians

3:1 Finally, brothers, pray for us,
so that the word of the Lord may
speed forward and be glorified,
as it did among you, 2 and that
we may be delivered from
perverse and wicked people, for
not all have faith.
Concern of Paul to the
Thessalonians

3 But the Lord is faithful; he will
strengthen you and guard you
from the evil one.

4 We are confident of you in the
Lord that what we instruct you,
you (both) are doing and will
continue to do. 5 May the Lord
direct your hearts to the love of
God and to the endurance of
Christ.
Commentary




In the text, the author expresses his prayer and
wish that the Thessalonians will continue doing
good.
Paul is worried about this community because
of the problems besetting them, like some
people are trying to confuse them regarding the
coming of the Lord.
So Paul says, may our Lord Jesus Christ and
God our Father…. Encourage…. Strengthen…,
not I, encourage you… It is God himself who
will encourage them. Vv.16-17.
In 3,1-2, Paul also solicits the prayers
(intercessions) of the Thessalonians:





To speed up work of evangelization
To be free from harm caused by evil and faithless
people.
Paul wants to be supported in his mission.
V.3 affirms God’s faithfulness. God will
strengthen and guard them.
In v.4, Paul expresses his trust and confidence
that the Thessalonians will be faithful in doing
and communicating the instructions they
receive from Paul and not from someone else.

15. Reflections on the 2nd reading

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As Christians, we need some encouragement to
live our faith.
We need God, not only humans, to encourage us
(to give us energy and hope).

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

We need support in our weakness, when we are
bombarded with strange ideas.
The encouragement that we need is to be faithful to
the teachings of the Church.
We go back to the original experience when we
were mentored well by the trusted missionaries
(teachers).
Vocations, who are in crisis, are also asked to go
back to their original feelings (motivation) when
they first felt called to enter priestly or religious life.

16. 38

27 Some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a
resurrection, came forward and put this question to him, 28
saying, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us, 'If someone's brother
dies leaving a wife but no child, his brother must take the wife
and raise up descendants for his brother.' 29 Now there were
seven brothers; the first married a woman but died childless.
30 Then the second 31 and the third married her, and likewise
all the seven died childless. 32 Finally the woman also died.
33 Now at the resurrection whose wife will that woman be?
For all seven had been married to her." 34 Jesus said to
them, "The children of this age marry and remarry; 35 but
those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age and
d.
he d are
tnor ea given in
to the resurrection of the dead neither emarry
n of
urr ctio
marriage. 36 They can cus ilonger rdie, for they are like angels;
no s on the es
T he f o
and they are the children of God because they are the ones
who will rise. 37 That the dead will rise even Moses made
known in the passage about the bush, when he called 'Lord'
the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob;
38 and he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him
all are alive."

17. Gospel reading: Luke 20,2738
A simple outline!
Sadducees and their argument

27 Some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection, came forward
and put this question to him, 28 saying, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us, 'If
someone's brother dies leaving a wife but no child, his brother must take the
wife and raise up descendants for his brother.' 29 Now there were seven
brothers; the first married a woman but died childless. 30 Then the second 31
and the third married her, and likewise all the seven died childless. 32 Finally
the woman also died. 33 Now at the resurrection whose wife will that woman
be? For all seven had been married to her."
Jesus and his rebuttal

34 Jesus said to them, "The children of this age marry and remarry; 35 but
those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age and to the
resurrection of the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. 36 They can
no longer die, for they are like angels; and they are the children of God because
they are the ones who will rise. 37 That the dead will rise even Moses made
known in the passage about the bush, when he called 'Lord' the God of
Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; 38 and he is not God of the
dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive."

18. Textual Context of Luke 20,27-38
Travel Narrative (in between Galilee and Judea)
19,1-10 Zaccheus the Tax Collector
19,11-27 The Parable of the Ten Gold Coins
Jerusalem Ministry
19,28-40 The Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem
19,41-48 Jesus weeps over Jerusalem
20,1-8 Jesus’ Authority Questioned
20,9-19 Parable of the Wicked Tenants
20,20-26 The Question about Paying Taxes
20,27-40 The Question about the Resurrection
20,41-44 The Question about David’s Son
20,45-47 Denunciation of the Scribes

19. Gospel reading: Luke 20,27-38
Sadducees and their
argument
 27 Some Sadducees, those
who deny that there is a
resurrection, came forward
and put this question to him,
28 saying, "Teacher, Moses
wrote for us, 'If someone's
brother dies leaving a wife but
no child, his brother must take
the wife and raise up
descendants for his brother.'
29 Now there were seven
brothers; the first married a
woman but died childless. 30
Then the second 31 and the
third married her, and likewise
all the seven died childless.
32 Finally the woman also
died. 33 Now at the
resurrection whose wife will
that woman be? For all seven
had been married to her."
Commentary
 The Sadducees belong to the priestly
class, which administers the Temple of
Jerusalem. They belong to the
aristocracy, which also controls the
economic and political life of the
Israelite nation.
 In contrast to the Pharisees, they do
not believe in the resurrection of the
dead, among other things.
 Their sacred scripture is limited to the
Torah.
 So in vv.27-33, we should not be
surprised when they challenge the
teaching of Jesus (also of the Pharisees)
regarding the resurrection of the dead
(which is not found in the Torah).

They craftily present an argument
culled from the Levirate Marriage law
of the Jews against the possibility of
resurrection (Dt 25,5-10). The second
son is obliged to give a child to the
widow, etc.

20. Gospel reading: Luke 20,27-38
Jesus and his rebuttal
 34 Jesus said to them, "The
children of this age marry and
remarry; 35 but those who
are deemed worthy to attain to
the coming age and to the
resurrection of the dead
neither marry nor are given in
marriage. 36 They can no
longer die, for they are like
angels; and they are the
children of God because they
are the ones who will rise. 37
That the dead will rise even
Moses made known in the
passage about the bush,
when he called 'Lord' the God
of Abraham, the God of Isaac,
and the God of Jacob; 38 and
he is not God of the dead, but
of the living, for to him all are
alive."

In vv.34-38, Jesus clarifies life in heaven.

The Sadducees don’t believe in heaven.

They teach: When you die, you die.
That’s the end of your life. So, you must
make good of your life here and now. Get
rich, be merry, don’t allow yourself to be
oppressed. Live your life now.

For Jesus, in heaven no one will marry
and remarry. V.34
There is no more death in heaven. No
need to multiply, unlike life here on earth.
Holy people are like angels (Sadducees


don’t believe in angels).


As a final blow to the argument of the
Sadducees, Jesus makes use of the
passage in Exodus where it says, “I am
the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob. (v.37)
Jesus uses this part of Torah to prove
there is resurrection.

21. Gospel reading: Luke 20,27-38
Jesus and his rebuttal

34 Jesus said to them, "The
children of this age marry and
remarry; 35 but those who are
deemed worthy to attain to the
coming age and to the resurrection
of the dead neither marry nor are
given in marriage. 36 They can no
longer die, for they are like angels;
and they are the children of God
because they are the ones who will
rise. 37 That the dead will rise
even Moses made known in the
passage about the bush, when he
called 'Lord' the God of Abraham,
the God of Isaac, and the God of
Jacob; 38 and he is not God of the
dead, but of the living, for to him all
are alive."



In v.38, Jesus interprets those words as
referring to the resurrection of the
dead.
You cannot juxtapose the name of the
living God, with the names of the dead.
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob must be
alive (They have resurrected from the
dead without them knowing.)

22. Reflections on the gospel reading
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For us, Christians, the resurrection of the dead is not an
issue.
The issue that should come to the fore is the meaning of
the resurrection of the dead.
What does it mean to us?
Meaning has something to do with relevance.
We, Christian adherents, should be mentored by Jesus
himself (or his true representatives), not by unbelievers (agnostics,
etc.).

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Discipleship is a continuous process, until death.
Belief in the resurrection or, life after, must motivate us to
live holy lives.
In concrete, we bring the good news to the poor. We build
a just and peaceful society, that approximates God’s
kingdom.
True religion is not just about beliefs but a practice that
liberates the poor and the oppressed.

23. Tying the 3 readings and the Psalm


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The first reading talks about the resurrection of the
dead. It drives the brothers to die as martyrs to their
faith, rather than violate it.
The psalm is the prayer of believers who endure
persecution.
The second reading talks about being faithful to the
original teachings (regarding the second coming / resurrection of
the dead).

The gospel reading talks about the faith in the
resurrection.

24. How to develop your sharing / homily



We, as Catholics, believe in the resurrection of the dead.
It is an article of our faith spelled out in the Apostles’
Creed.
We cannot do away with it, or else, we become heretics.

But how can we make use of this belief so that we may be
more committed to our Christian faith?

It is not enough to murmur this article of faith in the mass,
or, when we pray the holy rosary, or, when there is an
earthquake.

25. 
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The first reading teaches that we can be more
committed to God’s commands if we truly believe in
the resurrection.
We can be willing to die as martyrs for our faith.
This should inspire us, Christians, to radically give
witness to our faith rather than violate human and
Christian principles (justice, peace, fairness, harmony,
equality = all values of the kingdom), for the sake of
convenience or self-preservation.
Alas, many Christians especially in the high places of
government prefer to violate the law (graft and corruption,
no accountability, wanton destruction of nature, illegal detention,
violation of human rights, of animal rights, etc.), to being

ostracized or to be removed from office or to resign.
They compromise their faith with evil as if there is no
other way to live decently.

26. 
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The second reading teaches us to re-root
ourselves to the original teachings of the
apostles, in times of confusion.
Confusion comes in when we allow ourselves to
be taught by unauthorized teachers of the
Church (not representing the apostolic traditions) on the
second coming of Jesus (resurrection of the dead).
We must be discerning as to whom to listen to,
to draw encouragement from.
In this way, we are able to continue the mission
of the apostles and Jesus.
We cannot just absorb everything, in the name of
friendship and dialogue.
Ecumenism does not teach us to compromise
the basic tenets of our religion and that the
others compromise theirs.
When we capitulate in our faith, we fail in our mission.

27. 
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In the gospel, Jesus teaches that there is such a thing as
the resurrection of the dead.
He does it by associating the resurrection with the reality
of heaven and by tying it with the name of the God of the
living.
We get Jesus’ point if we interpret the Torah using his
optic.
It is God’s way of vindicating his faithful ones like
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
In times of conflict of beliefs, we must always take the
cue from Jesus (in the gospels), who is our teacher, not
from other teachers.
We, Christians, must have a sound and solid catechesis.

28. 

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Many of us live like the Sadducees whose priority in life
is to enjoy life here and now, without regard to the
future.
We have lost our sense of heroism and self-sacrifice.
We don’t talk anymore about martyrdom, but
pragmatism.
We are prone to connive with the evil schemes of
misguided politicians and businessmen.
We even use religion to get rich and to gain power at
the expense of the poor.
Warning to those who persecute the just: God will see
to it that you will never rise again on the last day.
In our liturgy, we have to renew our pledge to be
relentlessly committed to our Christian faith, without
compromise with mammon.

29. 
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In the eucharist, Jesus promises us life eternal, which
is nothing else than the resurrection of the dead.
It is a sacrament that celebrates our resurrection.
We resurrect now, not just in the future, when we
receive the eucharist.
Jesus promises life now, when we eat of his body
and drink of his blood.
The eucharist is a concrete proof that Christ himself
is risen from the dead and he is alive in our hearts
and is actively leading us to eternal life.

30. Our Context of Sin and Grace
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Easily discouraged
Living without inspiration
Always compromising
Living without honor, dignity
and principles
No solid basis for sound
judgment
Faint hearted
Groundless living of faith (no
formation)
Disconnected with Christ, the
great mentor
Un-mentored by their
authorized teachers
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Living according to one’s
principles, even if it is not
convenient
Hopes for the resurrection
Relevant faith
Uncompromising to evil and to
other teachings that contradict
one’s faith.
Wise and discerning
Has solid foundation of his faith
catechism

31. Suggested Songs
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Paano Namin Masasabi
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Pananagutan
O Tao
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ICZUOf_jNo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXhwzDRL7bM
I will raise him up