A Word about the Word
This week’s readings are extremely powerful and focus on the Resurrection. The first reading from Maccabees is part of a story that involves a very holy mother and her sons who are willing to be tortured and killed rather than go against the teachings of God. This powerful story is often recounted during the Jewish Holiday of Chanukah. It is a graphic and powerful tale of the courage and dignity of these heroes who stood strong and told their torturers that “the King of the Universe, their God would raise them up”. They did not fear death, even in front of the eyes of their own mother. They serve as a powerful reminder of the men and women who have gone before us and sometimes gave up their own lives to preserve the Faith even if it meant shedding their own blood. St. Paul reminds us to have hope and trust in the Resurrection power of our Lord Jesus Christ. He also reminds us to pray for others, to be intercessors and stand in the gap for others. We are all called to be prayer warriors. We are all in spiritual warfare. If you don’t believe me, just watch the 6 O’clock news. We need to be strong in the Faith and not be afraid to stand up for what we believe even if it isn’t popular or what the rest of the world is doing. In the Gospel, our Lord takes a question about marriage and the Mosaic Law in the afterlife. The Sadducees were attempting to make fun of the belief in the resurrection, but our Lord forces them to look deeper and tells them things about Heaven that challenge them to the core. There will be things beyond marriage and death and to focus on Heavenly things now while we are alive. It is not easy being a Catholic in today’s world. We are under attack all the time. Let us take an example from those who went before us and filled with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit let us get our strength and courage from Christ, for in Him lays the glorious hope of our Resurrection. This week, don’t be afraid to share with someone what God has done for you. Stand strong and be not afraid, be a prayer warrior… And may God richly bless you always…
Comments