Resurrection Faith

In today's gospel Jesus encounters the Sadducees, who were known for their denial of the resurrection. They approach Jesus with a logical trap, to which he quickly points out both their lack of faith, and their lack of understanding of the scriptures.

I find it interesting that among Christians most would profess a strong belief in the resurrection of the dead—certainly, not to claim that we understand the how of the resurrection in a way that conforms to the logic that governs the modes of thought in day to day existence. Nevertheless we believe and inwardly we intuit that there is a particular logic at work that is unlike anything else in the world. It is the logic of faith.

Even non-Christians and people who do not identify themselves with religion often will express a strong belief in the afterlife.

Now the more important point to consider today, when we look at the first reading from St. Paul's letter to St. Timothy, is that we are to take the gift faith, that which allows us to believe in the resurrection of the dead, and apply it to things in this life that we might find despairing.

If we believe God has the power to raise the dead, then why can we not see that he also has the power to give courage, not only to bear whatever hardships life throws our way but to live in such a manner that the power of God is evident? Through the blood of Christ outpoured God has made us into a righteous people, a holy nation that is able to discern and carry out the will of God.

Faith makes us ready to bear hardships. What this means is that faith provides us with the means to encounter our world and change it for God—to encounter people, perhaps even those whom we may find to be repulsive or those who inspire fear in us.

Our Lord may ask us to step into situations of which we would never dream. He may ask us to tolerate that which we find intolerable. He only asks us to be his instruments in transforming the world. Really, is it any more unreasonable or illogical to believe in this possibility than it is to believe in the resurrection of the dead?