New Life – New Life

Today’s Readings: Tobit 3:1-11, Mark 12:18-27

REFLECTION
Many people think that there is “something” after death and that something in us called”soul” survives. This belief is partly true but this is not the most important. The resurrection points not to a survival of “something of us” but to a transformation and raising up our whole person. This will be through grace and the work of God; we will be reborn from God himself.

Many persons are mistaken about resurrection thinking that when people are raised, they recover their actual bodies, which is ridiculous. It would be better for us to think of the transformation already achieved in us as Christian followers of Christ.

Something is developing in us: a new way to understand the things of God, a new vision of existence and renewed conscience. While our “external self” is wasting away the “inner self” is growing in us.

This is my “true self” which is being built up day by day by the Spirit of God and it is this “inner self” that will be raised by the Spirit.

Today’s gospel tells us that in the new life, there is no place for any biological functions proper to mortal beings like eating, sleeping, and sex: we will be in heaven like angels. Jesus did not say we will be angels, for we are and will be members of the human family, and in the resurrection, we will form the saved humanity, the innumerable brothers of Christ.

We will all enjoy God, we will know each and everyone and we will remain united through the bonds of Charity.

PRAYER
Father Almighty, we believe that we too will rise up on the last day of our lives. We believe that you have prepared a perfect place for us, where we will be joined by our bothers and sisters in unity with you, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Increase our faith in you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.