St. Marcellinus & Peter, martyrs 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊  

Tobit 3:1-11a, 16-17a*

Distressed, I wept and prayed and expressing my sorrow,

I said, “You are just, O Lord; all your actions and all your ways are merciful and just; your judgments are always true and just. Remember me, Lord, and look on me. Do not punish me for my sins nor for the wrongs I have committed through ignorance. Pardon the sins which my fathers have committed in your sight, for they disobeyed your commandments.

You have allowed us to suf­fer pillage, captivity and death. You have allowed us to be mocked by all the pagan nations among whom we have been dispersed. Ah well! All your judgments are just when you choose to punish me for my sins and those of my fathers, because we have not accomplished your will, nor have we sincerely obeyed your commands. We have not walked before you in truth.(…….)

 

Ps 25:2-3, 4-5ab, 6 & 7bc, 8-9

To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊ 

Mark 12:18-27

  The Sadducees also came to Jesus. Since they claim that there is no resurrection, they questioned him in this way, “Mas­ter, in the Scriptures Moses gave us this law: ‘If anyone dies and leaves a wife but no children, his brother must take the wife and give her a child who will be considered the child of his deceased brother.’ Now, there were seven brothers.

The first married a wife, but he died without leaving any children. The second took the wife and he, too, died leaving no children. The same thing happened to the third. Finally the seven died leaving no children. Last of all the woman died. Now, in the resurrection, to which of them will she be wife? For the seven had her as wife.”

 Jesus replied, “You could be wrong in this regard because you understand neither the Scriptures nor the power of God. When they rise from the dead, men and women do not marry but are like the angels in heaven.

Now, about the resurrection of the dead, have you never reflected on the chapter of the burning bush in the book of Moses? God said to him: I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. Now, he is the God, not of the dead but of the living. You are totally wrong.”

 

Gospel Reflection：

Not only the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law along with the Herodians, but also the Sadducees came to test Jesus. All of a sudden everyone is invigorated. They summon up their aggression to confront the upstart that rocks the status quo. Funny how people spring into action when somebody displays brilliance and extraordinary capacity.

They are suddenly challenged to show their own strength. Whereas before, when everything is as usual, they do not bother to show their creativity. Jealousy can be a great motivator to outperform the other. Had they been consistently good and performing at a high level, they would not feel threatened.