We don't know how good we've got it. Although we've let the devil cause chaos in our society through our sins, we still live in the kingdom of God. We live in A.D. and not B.C., in victory and not in defeat. We live after Jesus has brought salvation to the world through His passion, death, and resurrection. Like Tobit, many have suffered tragedies in their lives and are near despair (Tb 3:6). However, the good news is that "we are more than conquerors" in Jesus, Who loves us (Rm 8:37). Like Sarah and the woman in the Gospel, many have gone through a series of heart-breaking marriages (Tb 3:8; Mk 12:22). They didn't know the Savior, but we do.

Of course, present-day Sadducees and Pharisees still are badly misled (and misleading), "make a pretense of religion" (2 Tm 3:5), and "fail to understand the Scriptures or the power of God" (Mk 12:24). But "despite the increase of sin, grace has far surpassed it" (Rm 5:20). We are very privileged to live after Jesus has redeemed the world. Jesus said: "I solemnly assure you, history has not known a man born of woman greater than John the Baptizer. Yet the least born into the kingdom of God is greater than he" (Mt 11:11). We are greater than John, Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Elijah, etc. We are in Jesus. Alleluia!

Rescript:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, December 20, 2004

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