Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 20, 27-40
Some Sadducees, those who say there is no resurrection, came to him and asked him a question, ‘Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no children, the man shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. Now there were seven brothers; the first married, and died childless; then the second and the third married her, and so in the same way all seven died childless. Finally the woman also died. In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had married her.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Those who belong to this age marry and are given in marriage; but those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. Indeed they cannot die any more, because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection. And the fact that the dead are raised Moses himself showed, in the story about the bush, where he speaks of the Lord as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive.’ Then some of the scribes answered, ‘Teacher, you have spoken well.’ For they no longer dared to ask him another question.
We are children of God
1) Women. If there is one thing we have achieved as Christians, it is to give dignity to women. Jesus has given women a new dignity, a new place in society, and a new importance. The dignity Jesus gives women is recognizing that they are not something, but someone. I remember the beautiful document written by Pope John Paul II called “Mulieris dignitatem,” or the dignity of women. Today, there are so many women who suffer and are taken as objects instead of people. They are considered useful solely for the purpose of work (washing, ironing, cooking, and so on).
In women, we can see the marvelous work of God. I direct my words to you, women: “Thank you for taking risks, and for defending the life you carry in your womb. Thank you for always taking care of every person you have given life to, no matter their age. Thank you for taking care of so many people, even if you yourself have not had children. Thank you for lifting up the person who walks next to you in life when he falls. Thank you for making a family. Thank you, dear Sister, for consecrating your life to God and forming part of a community, for becoming nuns, consecrated lay women, and for showing that God is with us. Thank you for being a woman. You are sincerely appreciated!”
2) Marriage. Marriage is a sacrament that encompasses a life of mission whose aim is to sanctify others and the world around us with and through your spouse. Marriage is ‘till death do us part’ because in eternity there is no marriage. In eternal life, our Baptism is ratified, shaped, and reconfigured since we are the children of God. In eternity, there is only the eternal love for God. That is why marriage is the pursuit of holiness, knowing that we are the children of God, looking forward to knowing the eternal love of God.
3) Eternal Life. This is what guides our lives, to seek heaven and to ‘be a heaven’ for others. You and I must accept that our life is transient here and that life implies a struggle towards the pursuit of sanctity. God calls us to ‘be a heaven’ for others. You are called to live in sanctity because your purpose is to ‘build heaven’ together with others. So, work on building the road to Heaven and don’t turn your life into a hell.
God bless you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Always remember, Heaven is our goal.
