Gospel: November 22, 2025
November 22, 2025 (Saturday)
33rd Week in Ordinary Time
Psalter: Week 1 / (Red)
St. Cecilia, virgin and martyr
Ps 9:2-3, 4 & 6, 16 & 19
I will rejoice in your salvation.
1st Reading: 1 Maccabees 6:1-13*
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.
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.
