He is not God of the dead but of the living.

My dear Friends in Christ,

Today’s Gospel focus is on a group of Sadducees who are questioning Jesus on a moral situation involving marriage. In defiance of Christ’s authority, they manifest denial. Sadducees did not believe that there was any kind of resurrection; no life could come after death. This life is all there is. Therefore, this question of marriage and remarriage they bring before Jesus is everything to them. Jesus recognized that the Sadducees were trying to undermine His authority. He responds not by answering the question about marriage, but responding about the resurrection. Those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age and to the resurrection of the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. For our God is the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and He is not God of the dead but of the living. God responds that amazing things are in store for those He calls to Him, with the promise of eternal life in Him. Christ gains victory for us through His resurrection.

Next Saturday is our “In Thanksgiving” dinner immediately following the 4:00 PM Mass. Tickets are on sale after all Masses this weekend. We hope you will make time to join us and give thanks to God for the many blessings He bestows on us.

We are in the final phase of the Annual Catholic Appeal for the Diocese. It’s not too late to still make a pledge to help our parish reach its goal.

If you haven’t done so, make sure to turn your clocks back one hour.

May God bless you all,

Father John