Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time C
Luke 20:27-38 (see TEXT below)
TODAY’S GOSPEL reading from the lectionary is a reminder of how certain religious leaders -- the Sadducees -- were constantly challenging Jesus’ teaching and authority, to the end that they might accuse Him and dismiss Him.
Since the Sadducees had no belief in the resurrection, this was their default area of argument. I get the sense that this “whose wife is she anyway” was no new line of attack. Instead, this was probably a tried and true conundrum that they had often used to silence those who believed in resurrection. What they had not counted upon, of course, was Jesus’ authoritative knowledge of the subject. That is, the fact they were speaking with one who knew what the entire afterlife was like put them at a special disadvantage.
You can almost hear the chuckle in Jesus’ voice, “Silly Sadducees, there’s no marriage then. For the resurrected things will be different; things will be made new then. And, of course, the reason Jesus speaks with such authority was his origin, and the fact that He Himself was about to walk that same road -- the first-fruits of many brothers and sisters (St. Paul).
But, there is something else here in the TEXT, a statement that somewhat troubles me, and one that actually connects powerfully with last week’s homily about Zacchaeus and how the Gospel changes the heart and behavior. Notice, the TEXT reads: Now at the resurrection whose wife will that woman be? For all seven had been married to her." Jesus said to them, "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.
Notice the phrase: those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age. The words, deemed worthy (which is actually one word in the Greek) trouble me. What could Jesus mean by deemed worthy? Who can be worthy of the Kingdom; who can measure-up to its entrance calling?
Well, of course, on the face of it we know we are not worthy of the Gospel. In fact, we instinctively recoil against this because we know ourselves to be sinners, plain and simple. So, we offer ourselves -- sin and all -- to the Christ, we offer our lives to the King & the Kingdom, and in so doing we receive the gift of GOD found in the work of Christ on the cross and the resurrection. But now we must also be deemed worthy of the Kingdom?
The word here translated deemed worthy is the Greek word -- καταξιόω, and in the best manuscripts it is used once in the Luke (here), once in Acts, (5:41) and once in 2 Thessalonians (1:5).
Let’s look for a moment at these other two TEXTS to help us understand what we are reading here...
Acts 5:33-42 -- The Trial of the Apostles
33 When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them. 34 Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space; 35 And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men. 36 For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves : who was slain ; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered , and brought to nought. 37 After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished ; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed . 38 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone : for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought : 39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. 40 And to him they agreed : and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go . 41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. 42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians 1:1-6
1 This letter is from Paul, Silas, and Timothy. It is written to the church in Thessalonica, you who belong to God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. 3 Dear brothers and sisters, we always thank God for you, as is right, for we are thankful that your faith is flourishing and you are all growing in love for each other. 4 We proudly tell God's other churches about your endurance and faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships you are suffering. 5 But God will use this persecution to show his justice. For he will make you worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering, 6 and in his justice he will punish those who persecute you.
Notice, how both the Acts TEXT and the Thessalonian TEXT tie being worthy to Kingdom to suffering here and now....
Which reminded me of an additional passage from St. Luke’s Gospel:
Luke 14:25-33
25 Great crowds were following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, 26 "If you want to be my follower you must love me more than your own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters -- yes, more than your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. 27 And you cannot be my disciple if you do not carry your own cross and follow me. 28 "But don't begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first getting estimates and then checking to see if there is enough money to pay the bills? 29 Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of funds. And then how everyone would laugh at you! 30 They would say, 'There's the person who started that building and ran out of money before it was finished!'
Here is the issue, then, it is the cost of pursuing the Gospel. Notice, you cannot be my disciple if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, so don't begin until you count the cost.
The point Jesus is making is that to follow him involves cost, sometimes great cost, and we are to recognize this upfront prior to our decision to follow. Here I think of those fellow-followers around the planet who suffer so much for the sake of the Gospel. (go here)
Perhaps the best way to grasp what is at stake is to think of what the Kingdom cost the King...
Philippians 2:5-11
5 Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. 7 He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. 8 And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal's death on a cross. 9 Because of this, God raised him up to the heights of heaven and gave him a name that is above every other name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
This, then, must be our path as well! This narrow way, this steep path is that for which we signed on to follow the living Christ. To stay faithful in the midst of struggles, this shows us worthy to the calling we have received to follow the Christ. To endure hardships as a good solider, this shows us worthy to the calling we have received to follow the Christ. To be ready to follow when it is convenient and when it is inconvenient, this shows us worthy to the calling we received to follow the Christ.
Finally, think of these two TEXTS:
2 Corinthians 11:22-28
22 They say they are Hebrews, do they? So am I. And they say they are Israelites? So am I. And they are descendants of Abraham? So am I. 23 They say they serve Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in jail more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. 24 Five different times the Jews gave me thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. 26 I have traveled many weary miles. I have faced danger from flooded rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the stormy seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be Christians but are not. 27 I have lived with weariness and pain and sleepless nights. Often I have been hungry and thirsty and have gone without food. Often I have shivered with cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm. 28 Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of how the churches are getting along.
2 Timothy 4:1-8
1 And so I solemnly urge you before God and before Christ Jesus -- who will someday judge the living and the dead when he appears to set up his Kingdom: 2 Preach the word of God. Be persistent, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. 3 For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to right teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever they want to hear. 4 They will reject the truth and follow strange myths. 5 But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don't be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at bringing others to Christ. Complete the ministry God has given you. 6 As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. 8 And now the prize awaits me -- the crown of righteousness that the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that great day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his glorious return.
TODAY'S TEXT:
Luke 20:27-38
Some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection, came forward and put this question to Jesus, saying, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us, If someone's brother dies leaving a wife but no child, his brother must take the wife and raise up descendants for his brother. Now there were seven brothers; the first married a woman but died childless. Then the second and the third married her, and likewise all the seven died childless. Finally the woman also died. Now at the resurrection whose wife will that woman be? For all seven had been married to her." Jesus said to them, "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. 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."
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