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Welcome to our Bible Study
32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time C
November 7, 2010
In preparation for this Sunday’s liturgy
In view of focusing our homilies and sharing
Prepared by Fr. Cielo R. Almazan, OFM
1st reading: 2 Maccabees 7,1-2.9-14
 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."
1st reading: 2 Maccabees 7,1-2.9-14
 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.
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."
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."
A simple outline!
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."
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."
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
Greek-speaking 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)
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."
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.
Reflections on the 1st reading
 Seldom do we hear a story of a whole family willing to die
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:
 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?
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.
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.
Reflections on the Psalm
 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.
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, as it did among
you, 2 and that we may be delivered from
perverse and wicked people, for not all have faith.
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.
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, as it did among
you, 2 and that we may be delivered from
perverse and wicked people, for not all have faith.
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.
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 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.
A simple outline.
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.
Reflections on the 2nd reading
 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).
 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.
Gospel reading: Luke 20,27-38
 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 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."
Gospel reading: Luke 20,27-38
 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
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."
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."
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."
A simple outline!
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."
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."
Commentary
 The Sadducees belong to the priestly
class, which administer the Temple of
Jerusalem. They belong to the
aristocracy , which 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 v.27, we are not surprised that
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. The second son is
obliged to give a child to the widow,
etc.
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."
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.)
 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.
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."
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.)
Reflections on the gospel reading
 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.).
 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.
Tying the 3 readings and the Psalm
 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.
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.
 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,
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.
 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.
 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.
 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.
 We are prone to connive with the schemes of evil
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.
 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.
Our Context of Sin and Grace
 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
 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
Suggested Songs
 Pananagutan
 I will raise him up

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32nd Sunday C

  • 1. Welcome to our Bible Study 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time C November 7, 2010 In preparation for this Sunday’s liturgy In view of focusing our homilies and sharing Prepared by Fr. Cielo R. Almazan, OFM
  • 2. 1st reading: 2 Maccabees 7,1-2.9-14  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."
  • 3. 1st reading: 2 Maccabees 7,1-2.9-14  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.
  • 4. 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." 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." A simple outline!
  • 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." 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." 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 Greek-speaking 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 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."  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 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:  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  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  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, as it did among you, 2 and that we may be delivered from perverse and wicked people, for not all have faith. 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.
  • 12. 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, as it did among you, 2 and that we may be delivered from perverse and wicked people, for not all have faith. 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. 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 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. A simple outline.
  • 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  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).  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. Gospel reading: Luke 20,27-38  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 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."
  • 17. Gospel reading: Luke 20,27-38  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 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. 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." 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." A simple outline!
  • 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." 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." Commentary  The Sadducees belong to the priestly class, which administer the Temple of Jerusalem. They belong to the aristocracy , which 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 v.27, we are not surprised that 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. The second son is obliged to give a child to the widow, etc.
  • 20. 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." 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.)  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 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."  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  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.).  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  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.  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, 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.  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.  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.  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.  We are prone to connive with the schemes of evil 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.  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  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  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
  • 31. Suggested Songs  Pananagutan  I will raise him up