Word to the Wise
Saturday, November 21, 2015 - Saturday in the 33th Week in Ordinary Time
[1 Macc 6:1-13 and Luke 20:27-40]Some of the scribes said in reply, "Teacher, you have answered well." And they no longer dared to ask him anything. [Luke]
NOVEMBER 21 PRESENTATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
In this seemingly unending election season, debate follows on debate and part of the process always includes "gotcha" questions that are posed by media and others in an effort to trip up a candidate or get a colorful quote for the next edition or newscast. In the scene from today's gospel passage, Jesus is in Jerusalem at the end of his journey and is confronted by representatives of a group called the Sadducees. The gospel reminds us that the Sadducees accepted only the first five Hebrew scriptures, the Torah. Since they did not think there was a reference to resurrection in those five books, they denied there was any such thing. Since they needed a pretext to have Jesus' arrested, they hoped they could pose a "trick" question about the woman who married seven brothers! In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells them, "You are seriously misled because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God!" Luke softens the response but the result is the same. The Sadducees are refuted and some of the scribes are impressed. Still, this is part of the 'gathering storm' that would result in the religious authorities looking for ways to get rid of Jesus.
Religious debate was an ordinary part of life in Jesus' day and is in ours as well. The aim should be to understand the truth and not demolish arguments. When I was a high school student, I was given a course in "apologetics" which consisted in learning how to refute the arguments of other Christians against the Catholic Church. Debates of this kind (and I took part in a lot of them as an undergrad) generated a lot of smoke and very little fire. I can say at that point in my life that I did not know the scriptures nor the power of God. I'm still learning, but I think I have a better appreciation now. There is no truth in "gotcha." AMEN
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