Catholic Man’s Daily Devotional and Bible Study – 33rd Week in Ordinary time – Saturday – Luke 20:27-40

The Gospel reading from the Mass for Saturday for the 33rd Week of Ordinary Time is Luke 20:27-40.

Having previously defeated theological challenges from the priests, scribes, elders and Pharisees, Christ now is confronted by the Sadducees, semi-secular Jews of the leader class who collaborated with the Romans.

Believing that “when you’re dead, you’re dead,” the Sadducees smugly attempt to discredit Christ by asking His response to an absurd scenario which they believe proves there is no resurrection. The scenario is based on Mose’s directive that men are duty-bound to marry and have children with their sister-in-laws if their brother dies with no descendants. The Sadducees lay out their scenario of a woman who marries seven brothers in succession as they each die without children. Their question:  After the woman dies, which of the brothers will she be married to in the resurrected afterlife?

Christ, seeing through the sneaky “baiting” by the Sadducees, authoritatively corrects and publicly humiliates their absurd scenario. Giving a first-hand glimpse of Heaven, Christ reveals that after the resurrection, male and female remain but don’t marry and, as sons of God, will be like the angels. Christ finishes by showing their ignorance of Scripture, referring to the truth of the resurrection on souls by referring to God’s own revelation of the ongoing existence of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Awed by Jesus Christ – Divine Prophet, Christ doesn’t mince words, authoritatively correcting and humiliating men who arrogantly perpetuate errors or who seek to attack Him; Christ inspired Scripture and has instant recall of all Scripture.  The Word who is the seat of all Wisdom and the Eternal Son who was with the Father from the beginning, reveals a small glimmer of the afterlife, confirming the resurrection of the dead and the existence of angels.

Being a Heroic Catholic Man

1) Though Christ brilliantly argues with logic and Scriptural precedent, Christ’s revelation of some of the details of life in Heaven (angels exist, humans are like the angels and do not marry in Heaven) is only possible if Christ is indeed the Son of God. Be awed.

2) Christ often draws on the Old Testament (which, as God, He inspired) to help bring men to Truth; how much more so do Catholic men need to understand Scripture to explain it to the faithless and confused today. Reflect upon the Christ and the Truth of Sacred Scripture (CCC 101-108, 134-141) and pray for Christ to help you build a deep understand of His Bible.

3) Each time a man says the Creed in Mass or when praying the Rosary, he is making a solemn vow that he believes everything in the Creed. Review the I believe in the Resurrection of the Body (CCC 988-1019) and pray for Christ to inspire you to understand and look forward to your own resurrection.

Spiritual Practices – Include in Today’s Prayers

Sacred Mystery of Rosary – The Joyful Mysteries

Daily Devotion – The Blessed Virgin Mary

Virtue of the Day – Hope

Corporal Work of Mercy – To bury the dead

Spiritual Work of Mercy – To pray for the living and the dead