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Jesus is the Temple

the words Jesus is the temple and a crucifix

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Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time Mass Readings

First Reading: Malachi 3:19-20A
Responsorial: Psalm 98:5-9
Second Reading: 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12
Gospel: Luke 21:5-19

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/111719.cfm

In today’s Gospel, Jesus says that the Temple will be destroyed. Now this is a really an important point for us to discuss. You see, “temple” is one of the central patterns of the Bible. Unfortunately, we don’t have the time in this podcast to discuss this in more detail. Suffice it to say, temple imagery flows through Scripture from the Garden of Eden as temple in Genesis, to Noah’s Ark as a temple, to the First Temple, the Second Temple and ultimately the resurrected Jesus as Temple. Indeed, in the Book of Revelation, when the new Jerusalem is described, there is no Temple in the new Jerusalem. Why? Because Jesus is the Temple.

In the first part of today’s Gospel, Jesus predicts the destruction of the Second Temple. Why does this happen? To answer that, we need to understand Israel’s role as the chose people. They are “chosen” not for their own exclusive benefit. Israel’s purpose as the chosen people is to be a magnet to unite all the peoples of the world to God. According to the Bible, throughout history, the sin of the people disrupts Israel’s calling. Each time, this leads to purification – a cleaning out which of course means the destruction of the temple and starting over. So, Jesus predicts the destruction of the Second Temple, meaning that the sin of the people has reached a tipping point. Indeed, our first reading from Malachi tells us that, “the day is coming, blazing like an oven…and the day that is coming will set them on fire,” (Malachi 3:19-20).

But then the Gospel shifts. Those listening to Jesus ask when all these things will happen. Unbeknown to them, Jesus describes signs that will happen before his second coming. Yes, many of these signs come to pass before the destruction of the Second Temple, but as we understand this Scripture today, we believe he is speaking about his second coming. He describes the persecution his disciples will face. Indeed, in Acts, Luke describes the apostles rejoicing that they suffer on account of Jesus’ name, (Acts 5:41).

Our mission as disciples is to carry on come what may. Our first task is to spread the Good News. We must be beacons of light in a dark world trying to help lead everyone to the new Temple – to Jesus Christ. Jesus, healing the wounds of Original Sin, helps orient us back to right praise and worship of the Father. It is Jesus who will reign as Lord of all the nations. Our Gospel today points us to next weekend when we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King. Our responsorial tells us that the Lord our King will at last come to rule the earth with justice.

Homework! Fed by the Word of God proclaimed, and, in the Eucharist, and in anticipation of Advent, I encourage you to reflect on the following:

  1. Think about how you’d like to receive the message about the Good News. What would be helpful for you to hear?
  2. Use the ideas you come up with and combine them with your personal story of faith. Perhaps write this out but keep it brief – maybe 1 handwritten page. When you’re finished, you now have a basic script you can use to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. Cool, right?

Okay, do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Then go and make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

Church teaching:

  • Catechism of the Catholic Church: Christ is the true temple, 1197; the temple’s destruction a sign of the last days, 585; the Church persecuted, 675; times of the Gentiles, 58, 674.
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Resurrection of the Dead

a picture of a cemetery with several old tombstones in the foreground

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Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time Mass Readings

First Reading: 2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14
Responsorial: Psalm 17:1, 5-6, 8, 15
Second Reading: 2 Thessalonians 2:16-3:5
Gospel: Luke 20:27-38 or Luke 20:27, 34-38

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/111019.cfm

Will the dead rise? No, I’m not talking about the zombie apocalypse. I’m talking about one of the “big questions” of life and our readings today grapple with this head on. The Sadducees who were part of the Jewish priestly class did not believe in the resurrection of the dead. In fact, after the experience of the Maccabean martyrs that we heard about in our first reading from 2 Maccabees chapter 7, the belief in the resurrection of the dead was growing. <1> Indeed, this is a central Christian belief today. We profess this idea in the Creed we recite every Sunday when we say: I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. We call this the doctrine of eschatology. <2>

The Sadducees use the resurrection of the dead to try to trap Jesus. They present their question about a woman whose husband died. According to the levirate law handed to them from Moses, if the dead husband didn’t have any children before he died, then his brother should marry the woman. At the end of their question, the woman has had to marry seven times, marrying a different brother each time.

Jesus answers saying, “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,” (Luke 20:34-35). What does this mean?

The entire point of the levirate law, besides providing for the widow, was to help continue the line of the fatherless husband – to continue the family name. But Jesus points out that in the life to come – in the resurrection of the dead, “the worthy” cannot die. He says, “They can no longer die, for they are like angels…”, (Luke 20:36). Since they cannot die, there is no need to try to preserve the family name.

But Jesus goes on to say clarify that the Pentateuch which the Sadducees cling to demonstrates the resurrection of the dead. When the Lord presented himself to Moses, He identified himself as the God of the patriarchs, “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob,” (Luke 20:37). Why would God refer to Himself this way if the patriarchs are dead and forever lost? God, Jesus points out, is, “not God of the dead, but of the living,” (Luke 20:38).

How can they be alive? The emerging Jewish teaching taught that there must be an intermediate state. <3> This teaching is affirmed by the Christian faith. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches: Those who die in God’s grace and friendship and are perfectly purified live for ever with Christ. They are like God for ever, for they “see him as he is,” face to face, (no. 1023).

Homework! Having been nourished by the Word of God proclaimed and by the Eucharist, I encourage you to reflect on the following:

  1. Pray something like this: Jesus, thank you for destroying death so that I may live forever!
  2. I encourage you to remember in your daily prayers your family and friends who have passed away and all the souls in purgatory.

Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

Notes:
<1> The Gospel of Luke by Pablo T. Gadenz, Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture, Baker Academic (2018).
<2> Himes, Michael, The Mystery of Faith: An Introduction to Catholicism (Cincinnati, OH: St. Anthony Messenger Press, 2004), 119-124.
<3> Ratzinger, Eschatology, 124, as quoted in The Gospel of Luke by Pablo T. Gadenz, Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture, Baker Academic (2018). Ratzinger writes: Indeed, Josephus (Jewish War 2.163; 3.372-74; Jewish Antiquities 18.14) explains that the Pharisees believed in both an immediate life after death because of the immortality of the soul and a future resurrection of the body.

Church teaching:

  • Catechism of the Catholic Church: resurrection of the dead, 575, 993; virginity as a sign of the coming age, 1619; angels, 330.
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A Little Help

picture of people helping each other climb a rocky hill

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Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time Mass Readings

First Reading: Exodus 17:8-13
Responsorial: Psalm 121:1-8
Second Reading: 2 Timothy 3:14 – 4:2
Gospel: Luke 18:1-8

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/102019.cfm

My brothers and sisters, in today’s Gospel Jesus tells us the interesting story about the widow who sought justice from an unjust judge. Jesus says, “Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says,” (Luke 18:6).

And what does the judge say?

“…because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me down,” (Luke 18:5).

Is his motivation really about justice? No, of course not. The motivation is clearly self-preservation at best. But the judge does give us a glimpse into something very important. His motivation is not based on his faith in the absolute truth upon which the Law based, the inspired Word of God. His comment betrays his lack of real faith. This prompts Jesus to conclude the “Parable of the Persistent Widow” with a question: But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth? (Luke 18:8).

But the journey of faith can be difficult. Perhaps a life of hard work can leave a person feeling jaded or cynical. Or perhaps you’ve lived a life filled with chapters you hope are never published. Either way, it’s all too easy to distance ourselves from living a life of faith – from living a life believing in anything other than those things which we define as real for ourselves.

In contrast with this idea, we hear in the first reading the extraordinary story of Israel’s battle against Amalek. Moses believed that as long as he held his arms up holding the staff of God in his hand, Israel would win the day. Indeed, as the battle raged, whenever Moses’ hands were held up, Israel succeeded, but when his arms dropped, Israel suffered. Wow! That’s a story of faith –the belief of the army of Israel that God would stand with them as long as Moses kept his arms up.

Scripture tells us again and again the amazing things we can accomplish with faith – real, absolute, unconditional faith in the God who saves. “Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth,” we hear from our Psalmist today.

But Moses could not keep his arms up without help. Scripture tells us that Aaron and Hur each supported one side of Moses until sunset. By the end of the day, Joshua and the army had indeed defeated Amalek. In the end, their faith, Moses’ faith in God and the army’s faith in Moses and God, saved the day. But what would have happened if Moses didn’t have help?

Help. That may be the most difficult word for some of us to speak. How many of us, I wonder, go through life believing we have to do it all on our own? “…be persistent,” we hear in our second reading from 2 Timothy 4:2. Be persistent like the widow in today’s parable.

But I suggest that one idea from our readings today is a reminder that we are in fact not alone. We are part of a community of believers. So, when our arms are tired, figuratively speaking, and we perhaps desire to take the easy path, let persistence nudge us forward and open us up to ask for help. How can we do this? Well, an accountability group like a Bible study with a group of friends might benefit us greatly. Or perhaps we could turn to a spouse or close friend or family member and ask for help. Of course you may ask me for help either by clicking the contact me button on the website or sending me a prayer request from the website and I’ll gladly help.

And we can pray – pray that God will place us in contact with the right person at the right time to help support our faith. I can’t tell you how many times this has happened in my life and continues to happen – the chance meeting with a person who truly is the answer to a prayer. So, we are encouraged by today’s readings to act with faith like Moses and not with selfish motivations like the unjust judge. No matter how difficult the road ahead is, we are reminded to, “Remain faithful to what you have learned and believe…” (2 Timothy 3:14).

Homework! After being nourished by the Word of God proclaimed and in the Eucharist, I encourage you to reflect on the following two questions:

  1. Who are your Aaron and Hur? Who are the people who support you in your faith? Thank God for them!
  2. How can you be an Aaron or a Hur for someone this week?

I think by doing our homework, we can better recognize how God is trying to help us in our journey and how we can help others too. Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!