This week's readings Sunday, Nov. 11, 2001 Reading I: 2 Macc 7:1-2, 9-14 Reading II: 2 Thess 2:16-3:5 Gospel: Longer Form Lk 20:27-38 Monday, Nov. 12, 2001 Reading I: Wis 1, 1-7 Gospel: Lk 17, 1-6 Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2001 Reading I: Wis 2, 23--3, 9 Gospel: Lk 17, 7-10 Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2001 Reading I: Wis 6, 2-11 Gospel: Lk 17, 11-19 Thursday, Nov. 15, 2001 Reading I: Wis 7, 22--8,1 Gospel: Lk 17, 20-25 Friday, Nov. 16, 2001 Reading I: Wis 13, 1-9 Gospel: Lk 17, 26-37 Saturday, Nov. 17, 2001 Reading I: Wis 18, 14-16; 19, 6-9 Gospel: Lk 18, 1-8 Pope's Prayer Intentions November General Intention The companionship of holy Christians emboldening us to proclaim the Gospel. To have as our companions holy and exemplary men and women boldly proclaiming with us the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. November Mission Intention Use of the mass media for evangelization. That we Christians may use the mass media as instruments of missionary evangelization.

The Lord is faithful:

He will strengthen and guard you

		Word of God  Word of Life  Fr. John G. Stillmank

Have you ever wondered about what life will be like after death? Everyone does. We have no direct experience of it, only the testimony of Scripture and the witness of the Church. Oh, and the resurrection of Jesus. Yeah, that.

We're scared to die. We're scared of death. We like it here, for the most part, and we're afraid of the process of dying, of what awaits us "on the other side of the grave." It's only natural: the unknown frightens us.

Readings for 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Nov. 11) 2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14 Psalm 17 2 Thessalonians 2:16-3:5 Luke 20:27-38

Scientific knowledge about death doesn't help, either. All the information in the world about what happens as a person enters into the last stages of earthy life, about the chemical, biological, psychological, physical events which take place does nothing to deal with our fear.

For that we need faith. We need to trust in God.

The seven brothers and their mother had that faith, that trust. In the Second Book of Maccabees they witness to their faith and trust in God by putting their very lives on the line. One by one, rather than transgress God's law, they gave up their lives to a painful martyrdom, trusting that God is faithful, that he will raise up those who love him.

"It is for his laws that we are dying," said one brother. "It is my choice to die at the hands of men with the hope God gives of being raised up by him," said another.

Were they scared? Sure. Human beings recoil from pain, and yet they endured the pain and eventual death with courage, because they trusted that God would raise them up. And these are people who did not know Jesus as we know him, did not know of his resurrection.

The seven brothers and their mother no doubt prayed in the words of the psalms, "Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full." They prayed for his protection, "keep me as the apple of your eye, hide me in the shadows of your wings."

Saint Paul encourages us to hope in God. "The Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. . . . May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the endurance of Christ."

It is that endurance of Christ which we must seek: enduring whatever comes for his sake and for the sake of the glory of the kingdom he has promised to us. So our conduct in this earthly life must reflect the life we hope one day to enjoy forever.

When queried about the resurrection by those who do not believe in it, Jesus answered by talking about who God is and what he has planned for us. The ridiculous example of the Sadducees about the woman married seven times -- "whose wife will she be?" -- does not stump Jesus.

"The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob . . . is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive." He taught that those who rise to live with God do not marry, and so at the Sacrament of Matrimony we say "until death do us part" or "I will love you and honor you all the days of my life."

As Christians we believe in the word of Jesus. We believe that, like him, we shall rise from the dead to a new, more glorious life, raised up by the Lord who strengthens and guards us throughout our lives here on earth. In spite of our fear, anxiety, and doubt, Jesus calls us to trust God, to put faith in his promises.

Go ahead and wonder about life, about death. Be scared -- it's only human. But put your trust in the Father of life who conquers death, in the Son of God who became man to take away sin, in the Spirit of love who banishes all fear.

Fr. John G. Stillmank is Moderator of the Curia for the Diocese of Madison and pastor of St. Andrew Parish, Verona, and St. William Parish, Paoli.