Immaculata Monastery, Nebraska, Benedictine Sisters who have international missions

 

Nov 19 205

Lk 20:27-40 Some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection,came forward and put this question to Jesus, saying,“Teacher, Moses wrote for us,If someone’s brother dies leaving a wife but no child,his brother must take the wifeand raise up descendants for his brother.Now there were seven brothers;the first married a woman but died childless.Then the second and the third married her,and likewise all the seven died childless. Finally the woman also died. Now at the resurrection whose wife will that woman be?For all seven had been married to her.”Jesus said to them,“The children of this age marry and remarry;but 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.They can no longer die,for they are like angels;and they are the children of God because they are the ones who will rise. That the dead will rise even Moses made known in the passage about the bush,when he called ‘Lord’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,for to him all are alive.” Some of the scribes said in reply,“Teacher, you have answered well.”And they no longer dared to ask him anything.
The relationship of the women to men in heaven is different than it was in the world. They do not marry. I think of this reading sometimes when I think about my relationship to men as a consecrated religious woman. It is a relationship that in my perspective is closer to how it will be in heaven.

Many times, I sense that I am able to speak more honestly and be accepted more for who I am when interacting with men as a consecrated women because it is clear that I am not viewing them in a context as a potential mate. It removes many layers of social and psychological and cultural issues that can confuse and act as a barrier to a communication and relationship with another person. I feel that my ability to relate to men has become much easier and open as a consecrated religious woman.

The life of resurrection and hope is one that my eyes are on as a great life from God. I hope that in my weakness and daily struggles that I never lose the hope, faith and charity that have been given to me. I pray today for faith, gentleness and generosity of heart.