Gospel Reflection - 32nd Sunday of Ordinary Time


Luke 20:27-38

     Nearing the close of the liturgical year, the readings tend once more towards the “end.”  But indeed, the end is only the beginning. The beginning of Eternity. 

Thanks to the unbelief of the Sadducces, who rejected the teaching of the resurrection, our Lord gives us a glimpse of what life after death will be like for those who remained faithful throughout their pilgrimage on earth. In addressing the Sadducces’ question, Jesus reveals of the blessed in Heaven that they “neither marry nor are given in marriage.” 

Why? Does that mean we lose our spouses? Couldn’t we preserve our marriages from this life and carry them to the next? I think Jesus gives us a good answer when He tells us that His Father “is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”

In Heaven, we will be wholly united to God, our One and All, in Whom we will find the fullness of joy, the Treasure of our soul. In Him, we will be more alive then we have ever been on earth; for our life is drawn from Him, and while we know Him now through faith, in Heaven we will see Him. The shadowy veil of this life will be uncovered and we will behold Him, our only Love. We will share in a communion with the Blessed Trinity stronger than any bond of earthly marriage. 

And if we are united to God, wouldn’t we be in union with those others united to Him? There are no pieces and parts to God; we will not see one side of Him while our neighbor sees another. No. We will sing His praises, and contemplate His love together with those who walked this earth with us, and those who walked before and after us. We won’t love one person more, as a spouse, then all the rest. Rather, we will love all. For our spouse will be Christ, and in Him, we will find a love that encompasses all of His faithful, all of His blessed…our lives will be lives of love, and we will be very much alive in that love!


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Gospel Reflection - 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Image
Genesis 2:18-24 & Mark 10:2-16 Both the first reading and the Gospel speak to the sanctity of the bonds of marriage and family.  In the first reading, we hear about God creating Eve to be a suitable partner for Adam.  The two become one flesh, man and woman joined together to not only keep one another company, but to procreate and tend to the land.  In the Gospel, once again those Pharisees are trying to trip up Jesus.  His reply is an admonishment to their hardened hearts, reaffirming that marriage is for one man and one woman and that no human can separate what God has joined.   Unfortunately, we have become a throwaway society.  We overbuy food that ends up spoiled and tossed.  Clothing and furniture tears or breaks and rather than repairing them, we throw them out.  We get rid of things in good condition when the newest model is released (game systems, cell phone).  The same applies even to marriages and friendships.  I have...
Read more

10th National Eucharistic Congress Highlights

Image
On May 17, 2024, four pilgrimage routes began in Mississippi, Connecticut, Wisconsin, & California. The purpose was to cross our nation, presenting Jesus to the people of America, & meeting in Indianapolis for the 10th National Eucharistic Congress July 17. Along the way, with Jesus present in the monstrance, the perpetual pilgrims made stops at parishes, schools, & prisons. You can read more about the pilgrimage HERE . About 60,000 people gathered at The National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, July 17-21, to adore our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament, attend Mass daily, pray together, & listen to great speakers.  Fr. Mike Schmitz, Monsignor James Shea, Bishop Robert Barron, Jonathan Roumie, Sr. Bethany Madonna, Chris Stefanik, & more shared their great love of our Lord & how much of an impact the Eucharist has had in their lives.  Unfortunately , I couldn't make it to Indiana, but I was able to watch many of the speakers live & on YouTube....
Read more

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Image
Well, here we are already...the 4th Sunday of Advent has arrived!  Have you finished your Christmas shopping & wrapped all the presents, baked your holiday delectables, mailed your Christmas greeting cards, decorated your home to rival any display of Martha Stewart's? If you're like most people, you probably answered that you're nowhere near being finished. But you know what? That's perfectly fine because none of those items are important in the grand scheme of things.  The bigger & most important question to be answered is, "Have you prepared your heart to receive Jesus on Christmas Day?" After all, without Jesus' humble birth in a stable over 2000 years ago, none of the other things above would have any significant meaning! Today's Gospel tells us that Mary, upon being told that she would bring our Savior into the world, set off in haste to her cousin, Elizabeth. Advanced in age, Elizabeth was experiencing a miraculous pregnancy, foretold by...
Read more