I will rejoice in your salvation, O Lord.-- Psalm 9:(see 16)
Mass readings:1 Maccabees 6:1-13 / Luke 20:27-40
Questions we ask out loud sometimes mask the real question in our hearts. In today's Gospel, the Sadducees come to Jesus with a question, a question preceded by a long and involved story. It sounds like they want to know about marriage, but their real issueis the reality of the resurrection (in which the Sadducees did not believe).
Christianity stands or falls by the resurrection. If Christ is not risen, Christianity is, at best, a nice little fairy tale; at worst, a cruel hoax. If there is no resurrection, we may as well eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die. Because Christ conquered death, we look forward to our own resurrection. And for those who place their faith in the risen Christ, eternal life does not begin after death, but right here and now.
Prayer: Risen Lord, keep reminding me that eternal life has already begun.