There are only a few Sundays remaining in the Church calendar before we begin a new Church year with the season of Advent.  The readings for the next few weeks remind us of the final things.  In the weeks to come we will hear about the end of the world and the kingship of Christ.  Today the Lord speaks to us about the resurrection of the dead.

            Life after death is one of the central beliefs of our faith.  There was no question about an after-life in the mind of Jesus.  He tells us, "God is not the God of the dead but of the living."  If one were to look at the life of Jesus it would make no sense at all unless he believed in the resurrection.  Our blessed Lord’s actions pointed to the kingdom of God which begins in this world and is fulfilled in the world to come.

            Not content just talking about the God’s kingdom, it was Jesus’ concern to bring the kingdom into being right here in our world.  His preaching, teaching, and healing, even his way relating to people drew others into the kingdom.  To know Jesus was to experience the kingdom of his Father.  In our day people need to experience God's kingdom as well.  This is why the Lord gave us the gift of baptism, so that in each of us could witness to the kingdom at work in our lives.

            The Lord challenges us to do even greater things than he did by the power of his Holy Spirit.  Only through frequent prayer can we establish the regular contact with the Father that makes the kingdom present in our lives.  Our lives should feel empty unless we have spent some time alone with the Father.  Rooted in the Father's love, we will begin to manifest his kingdom.  Others will recognize that we are Christ’s disciples when the way we live makes no sense without the coming of God's kingdom.