Reflection #1

1. What was the question posed by the Sadducees to Jesus Christ? Why did they not believe
in the resurrection of the dead?
A few Sadducees once asked Jesus about resurrection by telling a tale of a woman who
had married all seven brothers. They questioned him about which man the woman would
belong to if she were to be resurrected after marrying all seven of them.
The Sadducees, in contrast to the Pharisees, were serious about following the written
Torah, and as a result, they denied the existence of angelic spirits, a bodily afterlife,
and the immortality of the soul. Since the Pentateuch doesn't clearly discuss resurrection,
the Sadducees didn't believe in it and placed little significance on the Oral Law.
2. What was the answer of Jesus and what does his answer mean for us as his followers?
In response, Jesus said that children who are deemed worthy to enter the coming age and
participate in the resurrection of the dead are like angels because they are God's
children who will rise and cannot die. Additionally, he said that when Moses was in the
passage about the bush, he claimed that “the Lord is not only God of the dead but of
the living, for to him all are alive.”
Furthermore, the Sadducees were a group that denied the idea of the resurrection,
therefore Jesus was targeting them in the context of the quote. Jesus was demonstrating
that life continues beyond death or the grave of the physical body. Jesus was showing
that despite reading the Scriptures, the Sadducees did not fully understand them. As his
followers, we must realize that death is not the end of physical existence but rather the
separation from God.
3. What does the term “God of the living” mean in the gospel? What does believing in the
God of the living mean today for Christians?
According to the Gospel, God is also considered to be “God of the Living.”
The Lord is referred to in the Scriptures as the "God of the Living", not only because He
is the only god who is alive (all other gods are dead since they are fake), but also
because God's connection with His people does not stop with death because they continue
to worship and dwell with Him in heaven. Also, even if our bodies may remain on earth,
God will still see us as living whether we live on earth or pass away and go to heaven
since our souls are with him. He is the "God of the living" as a result.
 Reflection #2
1. How do you see the reality of suffering and difficulties in relation to your faith in God?
Do you have a particular unforgettable experience of having been criticized, ridiculed, or
mocked for having done the right thing? What was your reaction or response to it?
When we face difficult obstacles in life, we begin to wonder why God is punishing us or
why he is allowing these things to happen to us. We ask God for his gentle care to
bolster our faith and trust in Him in the midst of our suffering and doubt. When we pray
for any of these things, God tells us to be patient because everything happens in His
time, not ours. Because He is aware of the temptations that can make it difficult for us
to believe in the effectiveness of our prayers, He challenges us to place our trust in Him.
He makes us stronger in Him as He gives us the gift of patience, which can be difficult
to do.
2. Why should we persevere in living our faith in the present time in spite of obstacles and
hindrances that come our way?
God is aware of every challenge we have faced so far and will experience in the future.
And because everything happens in God's time, not ours, He also wants us to be patient
in all that we pray for. He forces us to put our trust in Him because He is conscious of
the temptations that can make it challenging for us to believe in the efficacy of our
prayers. We must never stop adoring God with all of our hearts and thanking Him for all
the times He has shown us kindness throughout our lives.
 Reflection #3
1. The Gospel reading for the feast of Christ the King shows the crucified Jesus giving
salvation to the criminal who was crucified with him. What does this say about the
kingship of Christ? How is Jesus’ kingship and reign the complete opposite of our
common understanding of kingship and reign?
Jesus' kingdom is accessible to anyone who chooses to accept it. But despite being
intended for everyone, His ministry was concentrated on those who were viewed as
sinners and outcasts, such as tax collectors and the Three Ls (the least, the last, and the
lost). Throughout his entire ministry, Jesus extended forgiveness; and even now, in death,
he does so. Helping those in need on both sides of him, he passes away in the same
manner that he lived. Jesus experiences hardship, yet he still has compassion for others.
2. How did Jesus show his love for the least, the last, and the lost? How did his practice of
table fellowship with the sinners bring hope and transformation to them? Could you cite
one Gospel story that shows this? How does this gospel truth impact on your own life?
In the Parable of the Lost Coin, a woman loses one of her ten silver coins. The 10 coins
are all equal in worth, but when the woman finds the one she lost, it suddenly becomes
greater value than the other 9. Jesus says that everyone is deeply loved by God as he
finishes the narrative. The Lord is saddened when someone departs from Him and His
ways and longs for their return. This theory is comparable to the belief that if a person
sins and is separated from God, they would be given preference in the kingdom of God if
they change their behavior.
3. How do you mirror in your own life, the way Jesus treated people, especially those in the
margins? Why is this significant in your own life as a follower of Christ?
Jesus' kingdom is accessible to anyone who chooses to accept it. Despite being intended
for everyone, His ministry was concentrated on those who were viewed as sinners and
outcasts, such as tax collectors and the 3 Ls (the least, the last, and the lost).
Throughout his whole ministry, Jesus showed mercy, and even after his death, he still
does. He dies in the same way as he lived, helping those in need on each side of him.
4. What does your recognition of Jesus’ kingship mean in your own life? How does Jesus
become the king and Lord of your life? How will you be able to continue affirming that
Jesus is indeed your king and Lord?
In contrast to earlier Kings, Jesus did not build the same kind of kingdom. He reigns and
dominates over the hearts and lives of His people. Jesus Christ is a king, but His kingdom
does not belong on this planet. He came to testify to the truth, and those who are of the
truth pay attention to what He says. He expressed his love for us in many ways, such as
through his sacrifices for us and his kindness to people who are viewed as sinners and
outcasts. The least we can do to thank him for what he has done is to accept him as our
king.
 Reflection #4
1. What is the call of the Gospel in this season of Advent? What is the meaning of vigilance
and watchfulness in the context of faith?
The word watch means "to keep awake, be vigilant, be watchful." For us, this refers to
one who fully understands the spiritual truths that set the foundation for his life in Christ
and who draws strength and inspiration from this heavenly source. He also recognizes and
aggressively confronts the spiritual dangers posed by the adversarial dominion of Satan.
2. Why is it important to care and bother about the present? Why do we need to be
concerned about what is happening today and to contribute in the betterment of society?
We must stop trying to change things that are beyond our control in order to live in the
present. We relinquish control and provide ourselves with permission to be present at the
moment. We should accept the past so we don't worry about the future. It resembles
cleansing our minds of all the bad thoughts. When our fears and beliefs are gone, we see
things for what they truly are. Everyone must also give back to society in order to
preserve the current way of life and safeguard the lives of coming generations.
3. Why is indifference or apathy the enemy of the follower of Jesus? Why do we need to be
responsible for the present time? Why do we need to change our ways if we are to hope
in the future that God wants for us?
My understanding is that indifference or apathy refers to a lack of excitement, interest,
or care for something or someone. Obviously, when we don't care at all or when our lack
of worry isn't strong enough to spur us to action, we become uncaring. The sin of
passivity is to see someone in need and do nothing to help them. It is a sin to observe
someone being treated unfairly and do nothing to defend them.
 Reflection #5
1. The Gospel for the Second Sunday of Advent focuses on the figure of John the Baptist.
What is the connection of John to the coming of Christ?
John was the son of Elizabeth and Zechariah. John's responsibility was to get the people
ready for the Messiah's arrival. He did this by promoting repentance and issuing a head's
up that the Kingdom of Heaven was drawing near. People were fully submerged in water
during the Jewish ritual of baptism to represent purity.

2. What characteristics of John in the Gospel ought to be seen in our lives as followers of
Jesus? Why do you say so?
John's ability to inspire people with his sermons is one of his most admirable traits. The
two main religious factions, the Pharisees and Sadducees, as well as soldiers and tax
collectors were among John's extremely large crowds. He speaks directly to his audience,
urging them to demonstrate their repentance by being baptized in the Jordan and by
leading altered lives. Israel should personally humble themselves before God in sincere
repentance rather than relying on their relationship with Him for salvation, according to
the core message he is conveying to them. He assures them that rather than baptism in
water, the Messiah would baptize them with heavenly fire and the Holy Spirit.