Gospel
Jerusalem Bible © 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd and Doubleday & Company Inc.
Some Sadducees—those who say that there is no resurrection—approached Jesus and they put this question to him, ‘Master, we have it from Moses in writing, that if a man’s married brother dies childless, the man must marry the widow to raise up children for his brother. Well then, there were seven brothers. The first, having married a wife, died childless. The second and then the third married the widow. And the same with all seven, they died leaving no children. Finally the woman herself died. Now, at the resurrection, to which of them will she be wife since she had been married to all seven?’
Jesus replied, ‘The children of this world take wives and husbands, but those who are judged worthy of a place in the other world and in the resurrection from the dead do not marry because they can no longer die, for they are the same as the angels, and being children of the resurrection they are sons of God. And Moses himself implies that the dead rise again, in the passage about the bush where he calls the Lord 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 men are in fact alive.’
(Luke 20:27–38)
Did you know?
Points of interest and Catholic lore
- The rule about a man marrying the childless widow of his brother is known as the ‘Levirate Law’, and it is specified in Deuteronomy 25:5–10. This law was designed to protect the woman, who, as a childless widow, had no social status and no one to provide for her needs.
- The Sadducees mostly lived near the temple precinct in Jerusalem, and they came from a relatively small number of wealthy and influential families. The temple high priest and chief priests often came from Sadducee families. Furthermore, the Sadducees often controlled the necessary temple trade.
- The Sadducees were a priestly group of conservative Jews who followed the written law of the Pentateuch—the first five books of the Bible. Resurrection of the dead is not mentioned in these books, so they rejected this belief. Their stance contradicts that of the Pharisees, who also adhered to the oral law and writings, but who did believe in resurrection of the dead.
- November is the month in which the Church specially remembers those who have died.
Exploring the Word
Now that Jesus has arrived in Jerusalem and his ministry is centred at the temple, he encounters the Sadducees, who dominate temple worship. In this text, the Sadducees ask a question not to elicit Jesus’ teaching on the topic but rather to ridicule Jesus and disconcert him. However, Jesus turns the tide and provides two answers to their question. First, he highlights that they have completely misunderstood the meaning of resurrection. The transformation of life brought by death is incomprehensible to the Sadducees because they are not open to the power of God. Second, he highlights that even though Abraham, Isaac and Jacob have died, Moses is conscious that they have remained alive in a sense because Yahweh continues to be their God—a God of the living. Death is not the end of the story, and Christian faith is marked by a joy and hope that ultimately resting in God will bring. This is the destiny of all humankind.
- Explore the continuity between life as we know it now and life after death.
- How do the catechumens understand ‘life after death’?
Making connections
Opportunities for group discussion and personal prayer
- How do you understand the concept of resurrection of the dead at this point in your journey?
- What emotions do you feel when you consider your own death?
- Although death is not an easy subject to discuss, you might like to share some memories of the death of a loved one. Celebrate the good memories of such people and the positive side of their lives. What gave you solace during such times of loss?
- If catechumens come from different cultures, you could ask them to discuss some of the rituals and beliefs associated with death or funerals in their cultures.
- Visit the graves of your loved ones during the month of November, and pray for friends and relatives who have passed away.
- Memorise and pray this prayer for the dead often this week, as you remember your own loved ones:
Eternal rest grant to them, O Lord.
May perpetual light shine upon them.
May they rest in peace. Amen.
Sharing the tradition
A closer look at the Scripture of the day, to see how it makes more explicit God’s word to us through the teachings of Jesus Christ
The Creed that is recited at Mass each week affirms that ‘we look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come'. Believing in the resurrection of the dead has been an essential element of the Christian faith since its beginnings (CCC, §991)—and it has always engendered some degree of incomprehension and opposition (§996). Although many people generally accept that life continues after death in a spiritual sense, the most difficult part of the concept to understand is the resurrection of the body. Catholics believe that ‘in death, the separation of the soul from the body, the human body decays and the soul goes to meet God’; however, through his divine power, God ‘will definitively grant incorruptible life to our bodies by reuniting them with our souls’ (§997) at the end times.
- Explore the relevant section of the Catechism of the Catholic Church that focuses on our understanding of Christian death and resurrection (§§988–1014).
- You could study the funeral rite and note the signs of hope and celebration in the ritual. How does this help us understand death?
Symbols and images
Traditionally, black has been the colour associated with mourning; however, since the Second Vatican Council, white vestments are worn at the celebration of a funeral. This colour change emphasises the connection between the joy that all believers feel for Jesus’ resurrection and their hope that they, too, will share this resurrection.
Living the Word
Practical ideas for group leaders to employ in connecting Scripture and daily life, with suggestions for music and environment
- If possible, you could invite the catechumens to attend a funeral in your own community, or to one in a neighbouring parish. Discuss how the life of the person is celebrated and how Christian hope is emphasised.
- You could invite members of the group to light a candle or taper in memory of their loved ones. These could be placed around a cross. Pray for those who are suffering or facing death. Pray for each other as you journey towards eternal life. A suitable song could be Lord, to Whom Shall We Go (GA 189). Conclude with the simple prayer of blessing in the RCIA at §97A.