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Their plan backfires though. Jesus does neither, but instead points to the scriptures for the truth with an answer that silences them. He states that when God appears to Moses in the burning bush, a pivitoal point in the Jewish faith, he identifies himself as the God of their fathers – the same fathers from whom they all claim to share blood with. He notes that if God identifies himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, then to God they are alive. They have not disappeared into nothingness but live on in his presence. He goes on to say that God is the God of the living not of the dead. If that is so, then so are all their descendents. What does this have to do with us? We belong to the God of the living, not of the dead. I think we need to be reminded of this. This week we celebrated the saints, whose extraordinary lives we hold up as an example, and we remembered on All Souls Day our loved ones who have journeyed before us marked with faith. In a sense we are just as Jesus proclaimed in the gospel; we belong to the God of the living! We need to have hope and we need encouragement to continue on our pilgrim way. Jesus reassures us in this Gospel that there is still something more that God has in store for us. Though times may seem bleak, he wants us to have courage. This life is not our goal. He yearns to share something yet more wonderful with all of us. Let us remain true to his call, and remain steadfast in his love. Peace, Fr. Steve |