It is interesting to consider the perspective of the Sadducees. Their opinion about there being no resurrection of the dead was not a popular opinion, but one held mostly by the economically and socially elite. Their opinions and self-justifications are based on false ideas that assume the next life would basically be like this one. A devastating lack of hope has undoubtedly fueled their blindness. Jesus even has to tell them at the end of today’s Gospel that they are greatly misled. Was it their wealth that misled them? Was it their apparent success or power? Those who think they have mastered or can master this world will despair of the next. Those who recognize the brokenness of this world and the people in it may understand that this is only the beginning of God’s work of re-creation. The longings for wholeness, peace, happiness, truth, love, etc. aim for something that is not broken. If these longings of our hearts connect with their author – God Himself – He confirms them. We are only denied the possibility of happiness in this world to the extent that this world is disconnected from its Creator and broken. God would not create anything that He could not repair. For broken creatures created in His image and likeness, His grace needs only our willingness to restore us in the flesh beyond the brokenness of death. Nothing we could imagine would bring us close to the reality of heaven. We can only approach the reality of heaven by ridding ourselves of the attachments we have to what is broken.
Pentecost Sunday
The coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost draws a connection with the events of the Old Covenant. Fifty days after the Passover lamb was sacrificed, Moses received the Law of God on Mt. Sinai. Fifty days after Jesus’ resurrection, the New Law is given: the Holy Spirit. The Spirit Himself is able to direct the lives of the baptized – the eyes of our heart are trained to fix themselves upon Him by our own acts of faith, hope and love.
This Spirit is none other than the Spirit of Jesus. He is Jesus’ lasting gift to us, enabling us to be with Him forever – and already in this age. This lasting gift takes the form of deep peace: burning away all anxiety and fear. The worst fear we have to face is of the judgment beyond death. The Spirit of God, a Spirit of forgiveness and peace brings us safely through that judgment and sets us on a mission to bring the grace of forgiveness to the world. Jesus is the Word of peace, of forgiveness – the Word of the Father. This Word abides in us and inspires us in the person of the Spirit. The Spirit is the Witness, the Spirit unites us to the joy of God, the peace of eternal glory and victory.
Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter
CHRYSOSTOM:
And so, Jesus entrusts to him primacy over his brothers. He does not bring up the denial, nor does he reproach him for what had taken place. Rather, he says, If you love me, preside over your brothers, and now show them the warmth of love that you have always shown and in which you rejoiced. And the life that you said you would lay down for me, now give for my sheep.
AUGUSTINE:
Peter made no other reply than that he loved him. The Lord asked no other question but whether he loved him. When Peter answered, our Lord did nothing else but entrust his sheep to him.