Daily Catholic Lectio
Wed, 5 June 2024
Ninth Week in Ordinary Time – Wednesday
1 Timothy 1:1-3, 6-12. Mark 12:18-27
Life in presence
“Death is nothing; put life in the presence of God, and life is in the present.”
The gospel reading contains the narrative of Jesus’ response to the Sadducees, another politically motivated group, on a question concerning marriage and, indirectly, life after death. The Sadducees claimed themselves to be the descendants of Zadok, a high priest during the time of David and Solomon. The group consisted of people of high profile and influence. They believed that the Torah was the only inspired Scriptures. This belief led them to deny some doctrines that almost all other Jews accepted, including the belief in angels and demons – which we have in the later writings. They also denied a future resurrection of the dead and life after.
The Sadducees, after narrating a situation in which a widow is married seven different times to seven brothers who each die (levirate marriage, cf. Deut 25:5-10), they ask a question—apparently about marriage. But the real question is about the validity of the resurrection of the dead. Jesus, at the outset, levels an accusation against them: “You don’t know the Scriptures or the power of God.”
Then, he gives two proofs:
(a) Marriage is not forever. In their question, the Sadducees assume that marriage will continue into eternity, but Jesus offers a correction: in eternity, we are not married the way we are in this life.
(b) The Torah’s teaching. Jesus goes to the part of the Scriptures that they accept as inspired (the Torah) and shows affirmation of eternal life. When God speaks to Moses from the burning bush (Exodus 3), He speaks of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the present tense. He says, “I am,” not “I was.” Hence, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob continue to live in God because God is always ‘is.’
But the lesson for us goes beyond the discussion on marriage and life after death:
(a) Our permanence is in God
Human mortals have invented many ways to remain immortal. One such way is marriage. Through marriage, we live for ever, or the seed passes from one generation to another, and life continues. But there is a greater permanence, which is to be like the angels – without giving in marriage and without getting married.
(b) Power of God
In God, we continue to live. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, after their lives, continue to exist in God. Their lives do not end here on earth. Every one of us is blessed with the hope of reaching beyond.
(c) Immortality
Marcus Aurelius says, “You are in a given moment. Now, consider everything that went before as dead, and begin to live new from now on. And you have immortality ahead.” Our immortality in God makes us live our lives with purpose.
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“I know him in whom I have believed and am confident that he is able to guard what has been entrusted to me until that day,” writes Paul to Timothy (first reading). Paul, at the dusk of his life, is hopeful that he will be present in God forever (Jubilee A. D. 2025, bite 116).
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
Missionary of Mercy
# Be M.er.cy.Fool
Yesu Karunanidhi 
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