Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: November 23, 2024

Date: Saturday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture Text: Luke 20:27-40

Some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection, came forward and put this question to Jesus, 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. Now there were seven brothers; the first married a woman but died childless. Then the second and the third married her, and likewise all the seven died childless. Finally, the woman also died. Now at the resurrection whose wife will that woman be? For all seven had been married to her.”

Jesus said to them, “The children of this age marry and remarry; 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. 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. 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; and he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”

Some of the scribes said in reply, “Teacher, you have answered well.” And they no longer dared to ask him anything.

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The gospel reading for today, taken from the Gospel of Luke, recounts Jesus’ response to some Sadducees who were testing Jesus, His knowledge and authority. Jesus turns the tables on them by proclaiming that heaven is unlike earth. In heaven, there is no death, no need to marry and generate offsprings. Those in heaven focus on their relationship with the LORD and await the resurrection of their bodies. Jesus reminds us that our LORD is LORD of the living.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Am I using my life to grow my relationship with my LORD?

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, Beloved Son, Most Holy Spirit, You are the LORD of all that ever was, all that is, and all that ever will be. You are love itself and in love, with love, and through love You created us, guided us, saved us, and sanctify us. Stir within us, illuminate our minds and remain in our hearts and souls as we journey through this life in hope of life in abundance with You. Amen.