Deacon Matt's Reflection

Reflection for 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time: November 6th

2 Mac 7:1-2,9-14: This passage is both inspiring and gruesome. We witness admirable bravery and incomprehensible cruelty all at once. Of course, our faith proclaims the martyred brothers and their mother as the victors. They chose to suffer martyrdom and die, rather than act or speak against the Law. This gives us a lot to reflect upon. What is important enough to us, that we’d be willing to give up our lives for it? Can we even imagine living in a time when living out our faith might put our lives or our freedom in jeopardy? Somehow, that seems significantly more possible now, than it did even a few years ago. Let us be ready and be of strong and determined faith like the admirable family of this passage!

Psalm 17: “Lord, when Your glory appears, my joy will be full.” This psalm is in the form of a lament and a prayer of supplication. The psalmist has been treated unjustly and unfairly and approaches God with confidence and faith in the future; that God will produce for him or her, a just and fair outcome. The writer has taken refuge in the Temple (God’s house) and proclaims his/her innocence; therefore expressing faith in God’s previous promise to assist the poor, the vulnerable and the oppressed. Even in a time of great trial, such as in the first reading, the psalmist displays serene, unwavering and confident faith, like the sons and their mother in our first reflection for this week. Let’s take time to reflect on that. Do we have faith and confidence in Jesus’ promises to be eternally available to us? Do we trust in Jesus’ boundless mercy and love? We, too are receivers of promises and should approach God with confidence and serene faith!

2 Thes: 2:16-3:5: Continuing our theme of faith and trust in God, despite challenging times and circumstances, Paul prays today that our Most Blessed Trinity fill suffering and tested humanity with faith, encouragement and hope that empowers them to both speak out and act, consistently, with faith in, and in conformity to God’s Will. Finally, Paul asks for the reciprocal prayers of these “tried by fire” Christians; asking them (and us) to pray for other challenged believers in our world. We might consider reflecting on and praying for such groups as the war-weary Ukrainians, teenagers facing worldly temptations or even those facing faith-testing challenges in our nursing homes and hospitals. We are called, as Jesus’ followers, to be active members of a network of prayer that transcends time and eternity. Let us embrace this calling with confident faith and trust in God!

Luke 20:27-38: In this philosophical passage, the Sadducees intimate that Jesus’ understanding of the Resurrection is contrary to the teachings of Moses. Jesus aptly teaches them that they’re making a false assumption that the afterlife is in complete conformity with the mortal life that we now live. Jesus tells them that their question about which of the seven successive sisters the man had married would be his bride in the afterlife is pointless, given the fact that in the afterlife, all will be given a spiritual, glorified body that is qualitatively different. We’re told that in eternity “men will be like angels” and that “people will neither be married, nor be given in marriage” (Mark 12:25), in the life to come. We might take time to contemplate that God’s plan for us transcends this earthly life and extends, like God’s love and mercy, throughout eternity. Great hope is ours!

Exultantly,
Deacon Matt