📖 Readings
First Reading
1 Maccabees 6:1-13
“King Antiochus was going through the higher countries … he heard that in Persia there was a city, Elymais, greatly renowned in silver and gold. … He came and sought to take the city and to pillage it …” Catholic Gallery+2Dynamic Catholic+2
(continues describing his fear, sickness, reflection on the evil he had done in Jerusalem and his dying in grief) Dynamic Catholic
Responsorial Psalm
Psalms 9: 2-3, 4 and 6, 16 and 19
“R. I will rejoice in your salvation, O Lord.
I will give praise to you, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will tell of all your wonders. … For the needy shall not be forgotten; nor shall the hope of the afflicted perish forever.” USCCB
Alleluia Verse
2 Timothy 1:10
“Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death and brought life to light through the Gospel.” USCCB+1
Gospel
Luke 20:27-40
The Sadducees (who deny the resurrection) asked Jesus about a woman who married seven brothers in turn, each one dying without children. They asked, “In the resurrection whose wife will she be?” Jesus answers:
“Those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage;… and he is not God of the dead but of the living, for to him all are alive.” USCCB+1
🙏 Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father,
as we gather in Your presence, we ask that You open our hearts to receive Your word. Grant us the grace to hear, understand, and live out the message of resurrection and hope given through Christ. Strengthen us by Your Spirit that we may walk in faith, rejoice in Your salvation, and serve You with thankful hearts. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
🧾 Explanation & Reflection
For Catholics
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The first reading (1 Maccabees) highlights the theme of judgement, repentance, and accountability — King Antiochus recognizes his wrongdoing and the consequences that follow. This invites us to examine our own lives, acknowledging where we may have turned away from God, and to seek His mercy.
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The Psalm resonates with trust in God’s salvation, especially for the poor and afflicted — reminding us that God does not forget the vulnerable.
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In the Gospel, Jesus affirms life beyond death — the resurrection — and reorients the discussion away from worldly structures (marriage, lineage) to the reality of the “coming age.” For Catholics, this is a strong invitation to live in the light of eternity, not just earthly concerns.
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As it is the memorial of Saint Cecilia, a virgin-martyr whose life witnessed fidelity to Christ even unto death, we are encouraged to mirror her courage and devotion.
For Catechumens
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If you are preparing for baptism or reception into the Church, notice how all the readings point to a transformation. From death (or decay) to life; from worldly anxiety to hope in God.
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The Gospel is especially relevant: Jesus talks about “those who will rise” — meaning our faith in Christ leads to something beyond this life. As you prepare, you are being drawn into that “coming age.”
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This day invites you to step more deeply into Christian identity: to see yourself not just as part of this world, but being shaped for the world to come, through Christ and His resurrection.
🔑 Application
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Reflect: In what area of your life do you need to acknowledge wrongdoing and seek deeper conversion (as in 1 Maccabees)?
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Trust: When you feel forgotten or overlooked, especially if you are “needy” or struggling, remember the Psalm’s promise that God does not forget the afflicted.
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Live: If you embrace the resurrection hope, let it affect how you live today. Do you live like someone destined for the “coming age”? Could that change your priorities, your relationships, your service?
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For catechumens: Think about one concrete way you can live out your newly-forming Christian identity this week — such as serving someone in need or sharing your story of faith with someone else.
🙌 Closing Prayer
Gracious God,
we thank You for the gift of Your Word, which invites us into life and hope. May Your Word continue to dwell richly within us, bear good fruit in our actions, and draw us ever closer to You. Help us to live now in the light of the resurrection, with courage, joy, and love — serving others and glorifying Your name. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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