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Word To Life
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Sunday Scripture Readings: Nov. 11, 2007
By Jean Denton
Catholic News Service
November 11, Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time.
Cycle C. Readings:
1) 2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14
Psalm 17:1, 5-6, 8, 15
2) 2 Thessalonians 2:16-3:5
3) Gospel: Luke 20:27-38
I spent an hour walking through a war museum in Hanoi last summer. Some of the place names and battles depicted were familiar. It was interesting to read the descriptions of the American war from a Vietnamese perspective more than three decades later.
Typical of a war museum, the displays showed struggle, death and heroism as well as cities and landscapes ravaged by firepower. But a room at the far end of the building silently "spoke" of something lasting.
Filled with photographs, the walls told the story of "the women of the war." There were pictures of a few women who had served as spies or functioned in direct battle operations. However, most of the photos were of those who had lost husbands and children in the war.
As I went from picture to picture the effect became palpable. "Her husband, father and six brothers were killed," read an interpretive sign in old-fashioned type. "She is shown with her daughters -- all of her sons died in the fighting," explained another.
"She gave her husband and 14 sons in the war." My mind could not accommodate the thought. Examining this woman's strained face, I could only guess that she survived on the hope of resurrection.
That's all some people have. I've known a few, and it seems they endure their days clinging to that thread. While others of us may have an easier time of it, we really ought to pay attention to these persons' reality -- because ours is connected to it.
The hope and truth of resurrection is the message of this weekend's readings.
The story in Maccabees is of a woman and her seven sons who were tortured by their oppressors. They endured the suffering in the belief that they would be raised up "to live again forever." This Scripture speaks on behalf of countless victims of injustice throughout human history, and in the Gospel Jesus confirms that their hope in the resurrection will indeed be realized.
Justice is the key. Jesus suffered and died as a victim of injustice and was resurrected "to live again forever" in the reign of love, peace and justice. If we wish to participate in the resurrection with Jesus and all who lived and suffered for the sake of justice, we also must embrace the reality of that life.
QUESTIONS:
Who is someone I have witnessed suffering for the sake of justice? How is my hope of resurrection tied to that of others, past and present?
SCRIPTURE TO BE ILLUSTRATED:
"I in justice shall behold your face; on waking I shall be content in your presence" (Psalm 17:15).
END
Copyright © 2006 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS Word To Life column may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service.
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