9th Week in Ordinary Time (Year B) : Wednesday 5th June 2024

The Sadducees were a priestly and aristocratic party. They accepted only the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Torah, as authoritative while rejecting other writings and traditions. Since the Pentateuch does not mention the resurrection, they too rejected it. To show the absurdity of the resurrection, the Sadducees cite a passage from the Book of Deuteronomy (Dt 25: 5-10), hoping to “trap” Jesus since they knew that He believed in the resurrection.

To counter their argument, Jesus proved that the Sadducees were wrong on two counts. Firstly, He speaks about the power of God that can overcome even death and give life. He also shows  that the example given by the Sadducees about the woman and her seven husbands is irrelevant since, by God’s power, the manner of life in the resurrection would be different and higher than earthly life. Secondly, Jesus proves that the Pentateuch does mention the resurrection. He cites Exodus 3: 6, in which God declares Himself as God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Since God is always God of the living, these Patriarchs also share the blessed life of the resurrection.

The resurrection is also clearly expressed in Paul’s letter from his prison cell to Timothy. It reflects, despite the loneliness and suffering he experiences as death approaches, his trust in the Lord Jesus and the resurrection remain firm. Paul’s words encourage us to look beyond the harshness of reality. And together with him we say:

Lord, I believe  You are the resurrection and the life.

In Preparation for the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus:
Click here to Pray the 9 days Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus