Shikrot Mpwi - Sunday Synopsis
with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk
32nd Sunday
of the Year, C – November 10, 2019.
Readings: 2 Mc 7:1-2, 9-14; Responsorial
Psalm Ps 17:1, 5-6, 8,15;
2 Thes 2:16-3:5; Gospel Lk 20:27-38 or Lk 20:27,
34-38.
Theme: The Lord of the Living
Introduction
Friends in Christ, as
we approach the end of the Church’s liturgical calendar, the liturgy draws our
attention to dying for the Lord. In
view of the four last things namely, death, judgment, heaven and hell, the
readings challenge us to witness with our lives for the sake of the kingdom. In
particular, today’s gospel message makes the point that before God, all people
are alive. This underscores the popular saying of St. Irenaeus: “The glory of
the Lord is man fully alive.”
This reflection titled:
“He is God of the Living” calls the faithful
to review their plan in life in line with God’s salvific plan for mankind. The
Catechism of the Catholic Church emphasis that God created us to know him,
love, serve and be happy with him in the next. This demonstrates that whether
we are alive or dead, we belong to the Lord. We shall browse through the
readings for appropriate pastoral lessons.
Background & Summary of the Readings
The first reading (2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14) reveals
the dramatic witnessing of a courageous Jewish woman and her seven sons. This
moving story is one of faith, courage and heroic witness. The reading discloses
how this dutiful family was devoted to the law of God and their ancestors. It
also points to the resurrection heroic witnessing.
The second reading (2 Thes 2:16-3:5) reveals St.
Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonians. Paul equally prays for the message to
spread quickly and be preserved from bigoted and evil people. He assured that
the Lord would guide and strengthen them from the evil one. He urged them to be
emboldened in doing what is right while praying that the Lord turns their
hearts towards the love of God and fortitude with Christ.
In the gospel (Lk 20:27-38), the Sadducees did not
only deny the resurrection but went ahead to set a trap for Jesus. They veiled
their grievance in a question about a woman who was married to seven men by
inquiring whose husband she would be at the resurrection. It is important to
note that those who do not believe in life after death were asking a question
about the resurrection. Expectedly, Jesus cleared their doubts when he said:
"...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 out
‘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” (Lk 20:35). He
goes ahead to reveal himself as the Lord of the living.
Pastoral Application & Practical Lessons
1. Be Devoted to the Law of God: We are called to be devoted to the law of the Lord
like the Jewish family in the first reading who said “It is for his laws that
we are dying.” Besides, they may have been inspired by this scripture: “You shall thus observe all my
statutes and all my ordinances and do the; I am the Lord” (Leviticus 19:37).
2. Be Committed to the Law of the Church: Just as the family would rather die that eat pork and
transgress the laws of their ancestors, we are challenged to observe the six
laws of the Church come what may.
3. Be Convinced about the resurrection: Christians are
challenged to renew their faith in the resurrection of the dead and the life of
the world to come just as the family were convinced that God would give them
life again in heaven
4. Be Courageous in Witnessing: The courage of
the young man in Verse 12 which surprised the King and his attendants teaches
us to be courageous in
witnessing to the faith.
5. Take to Witnessing of Words: In
line with the mandate of the Great Commission which Christ
entrusted to his apostles and to the Church (Matthew 28:16-20), Christians are
called to participate in the verbal proclamation of the word to the world.
