God of the Living – Reflection on Mark 12:18-27
Jesus proclaims that God is with the living. St. Paul further reinforces that Trinity is inside each of us. If God is inside and in heaven, heaven cannot be some faraway concept. Whenever we feel our spirit has been touched by Divinity, we should comprehend that heaven is not beyond spiritual reach because faith informs us that God of the living is here! It is difficult to imagine the fullness of heaven in our earthly breaths because we do not know the mind of God. However, we do not have to wait for God’s action to glimpse heaven’s potential reality. Deep, silent, distraction-free prayer with God will warm our hearts with love and peace to give us a good clue of what to expect.
The Pharisees and the Herodians Conspire Against Jesus by James Tissot, painting at full resolution.
More details are available on the Brooklyn Museum website
Additional Ordinary Time Reflections
Mark 12:18-27 – Scripture*
The Question about the Resurrection
18 Some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him and asked him a question, saying, 19 “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no child, the man shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. 20 There were seven brothers; the first married and, when he died, left no children; 21 and the second married the widow and died, leaving no children; and the third likewise; 22 none of the seven left children. Last of all the woman herself died. 23 In the resurrection whose wife will she be? For the seven had married her.”
24 Jesus said to them, “Is not this the reason you are wrong, that you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God? 25 For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 26 And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the story about the bush, how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? 27 He is God not of the dead, but of the living; you are quite wrong.”
Additional Thoughts
Thank you for meditating on this Gospel and reading this Lectio Divina on Mark 12:18-27 Reflection – God of the Living.
Would you like to contribute related thoughts to these Lectio reflections on the Gospel readings? Since Lectio is not the only contemplative prayer style, others might appreciate these types of expressions in this ministry. Do you see God’s grandeur everywhere and unconditionally enjoy sharing the love of Christ that you have inside? Are you willing to be anonymous in what you would share? If so, email me.
Prayer for young families:
Lord, let the young families of our communities experience your joy, peace, comfort, and love despite worldly distractions.
Attributions
*This site has permission to use the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) Bible Mark 12 passage.
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Primary Lectio Divina word or phrase: God of the living
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