The statement "there is no more marriage"

In heaven, people will be "like the angels,"

The Bible states that in the resurrection,

"they neither marry nor are given in marriage".

 

St. Cecilia, virgin and martyr

Men call me Cecilia, but my most beautiful name is that of Christian.

 ＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊    

1 Maccabees 6:1-13*

When king Antiochus was making his way

Through the upper regions of Persia, he received news about Elymais, a city renowned for its wealth in silver and gold. (...)

So Antiochus went there. But the inhabitants came out armed against him when they learned of his intention, so his attempt to take the city failed. (...)

While he was still in Persia, it was reported to him that the armies sent to Judea had been defeated. (...)

He heard, too, that the Jews had destroyed the abominable idol he had erected on the altar in Jerusalem;

and had rebuilt the temple walls to the same height as before; and had also fortified the city of Bethzur.

When he received this news, he was terrified and deeply upset.

 

He fell sick and became greatly depressed because things had not turned out the way he had planned.

So he remained overcome by this terrible anguish for many days. (...)

Now I remember the evils I did in Jerusalem, the vessels of gold and silver that I stole, the inhabitants of Judea

I ordered to be killed for no reason at all. I now know that because of this,

these misfortunes have come upon me; and I am dying of grief in a strange land."

 

Ps 9:2-3, 4 & 6, 16 & 19

 I will rejoice in your salvation.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

Luke 20:27-40

Then some Sadducees arrived. These people claim that there is no resurrection, and they asked Jesus this question,

"Master, in the law Moses told us, 'If anyone dies leaving a wife but no children, his brother must take the wife,

and any child born to them will be regarded as the child of the deceased. Now, there were seven brothers:

the first married, but died without children. The second married the woman, but also died childless.

And then the third married her, and in this same way all seven died, leaving no children.

Last of all the woman died. On the day of the resurrection, to which of them will the woman be a wife? For all seven had her as a wife."

 

And Jesus replied, "Taking a husband or a wife is proper to people of this world,

but for those who are considered worthy of the world to come, and of resurrection from the dead,

there is no more marriage. Besides, they cannot die, for they are like the angels.

They are sons and daughters of God, because they are born of the resurrection.

Yes, the dead will be raised, as Moses revealed at the burning bush, when he called the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.

For God is God of the living, and not of the dead, for to him everyone is alive."

Some teachers of the law then agreed with Jesus, "Master, you have spoken well." They didn't dare ask him anything else.

 

Gospel Reflection ：

"There is no more marriage."

Saint Cecilia, an early Church martyr, is the patron saint of music. Her connection to music stems from a sentence in her Acts,

which described her singing to God alone in her heart while musicians played at her forced marriage to the pagan Valerian.

The word organis, referring to instruments, was misunderstood in the Middle Ages as if Cecilia had been playing

the organ and so since then she has often been portrayed this way in religious art.

Music is a great blessing, and in prayer it can enrich our liturgies greatly. It can help to raise our minds and hearts to God.

 

Cecilia's prayer and faith led her to fix her mind so firmly on God that she looked beyond earthly marriage to the life of heaven.

She made a vow of virginity that consecrated her life wholly to God.

In her consecration she anticipated the resurrection and the life of the world to come,

where "there is no more marriage," says Jesus. Through the intercession of Saint Cecilia,

may we seek to dedicate our lives to God, firmly professing our faith to the last. And may our prayers,

whether said or sung, always give glory to God.