November
6, 2016
32nd
Sunday in OT
2
Mac 7:1-2, 9-14; 2 Thessalonians 2:16-3;5; Luke 20:27-38
There is this
story about a man who died while he was on a business trip in Jerusalem. The
office staff immediately called the wife to inform her about the incident and
ask about the burial arrangements. The wife insisted that the remains of her
husband should be brought back home to the Philippines even if it was
expensive. When asked why, she said: “Don’t bury him there in Jerusalem,
because I heard that many years ago, a man was buried there and in three days
he rose again!”
In today’s
gospel Jesus tells us that the dead will rise again. This is not about a zombie
rising from the dead. It is about what we say in the last line of the creed: “I
believe in the resurrection of the body and life everlasting.” We believe that
death is not the end of life. But how sure are we that there is life after
death? How does our belief in it affect our lives on earth?
Let
us reflect on the readings for today in three points:
LIFE
AFTER DEATH IS WHAT WE CALL ETERNAL LIFE. When Jesus resurrected
from the dead, He gave us eternal life. Eternal life does not mean that we
become immortal. We will all die. Belief in eternal life means that our life
cycle consists not only from Birth to Life to Death and Corruption. Belief in eternal
life rather means that our life cycle has been changed from Birth to Life to
Death and Eternal life. Eternal life means belonging in that kingdom where there
are no more tears, no more fears, no more pain, no more problems, but only
goodness and love.
In the first reading, the seven brothers who were about to face suffering and persecution never trembled before the torturers. In fact, the torturers were trembled as they questioned themselves, “Why are they not afraid? Why are they courageous in face of death? There must be something else that sustains them.” The answer is that their firm belief in eternal life sustained them in the midst of suffering and persecution.
In the first reading, the seven brothers who were about to face suffering and persecution never trembled before the torturers. In fact, the torturers were trembled as they questioned themselves, “Why are they not afraid? Why are they courageous in face of death? There must be something else that sustains them.” The answer is that their firm belief in eternal life sustained them in the midst of suffering and persecution.
BELIEF
IN ETERNAL LIFE IS NOT WISHFUL THINKING. Like the Sadducees
in the gospel, there are people nowadays who do not believe in eternal life.
They say that eternal life is just wishful thinking. So what they do is just to
enjoy life on earth because beyond the grave is meaningless existence. Jesus tells them in the gospel, beyond the
grave is not a meaningless existence. Beyond
the grave is eternal life. Eternal life is not merely a continuation of life on
earth. It is a different kind of existence. That is why people do not marry in the
next life because in heaven we are married to God. Eternal life is far better than
our earthly life. No matter how terrifying death may be, Jesus assures us that
life will be restored. Eternal life awaits us after our earthly life. What should
we do now as we anticipate the life after death?
PREPARE
FOR ETERNAL LIFE. Perhaps at this point of our lives, some have already secured their
educational plan, retirement plan and memorial plan. But how about our own
eternal life plan? Are we prepared for eternal life? Which side of eternal life are we preparing
for? Is it on the side of heaven or hell? Our belief in eternal life must not
distract us from living our lives here on earth. This is the reminder of Paul
in the second reading. The Thessalonians were expecting that the second coming
of Christ or the judgement day will happen soon. They were not afraid about the
second coming of Christ. They were in fact excited about it. But when the coming
of Christ did not happen according to their expectations, they were disappointed
and frustrated. Paul tells them: Belief in life after death should never distract
us from living fully our life on earth. It does not mean we will waste our life
on earth, anyway there is eternal life. We must continue to do good and avoid
evil. We must continue to live good and meaningful lives because that is how we
prepare for eternal life.
Our readings for today remind us of our belief in eternal life. Our faith assures us that there is life after death. May everything we do in our earthly life prepare us to enjoy eternal life with God in heaven. Amen.
Our readings for today remind us of our belief in eternal life. Our faith assures us that there is life after death. May everything we do in our earthly life prepare us to enjoy eternal life with God in heaven. Amen.
