all seven had been married to her

“Now there were seven brothers; the first married a woman but died childless. Then the second and the third married her, and likewise all the seven died childless.  Finally the woman also died.  Now at the resurrection whose wife will that woman be? For all seven had been married to her.” (LK 20: 29-33) 

Poor woman: moving from one brother to another, no time for mourning, no respect for her feelings and emotions, all because her husbands “died childless.” The Greek version is more accurate; instead of “had been married to her,” it says: “had her to wife.” They had her—she was part of the tradition, part of the rules, part of the law. How often do we keep our “idealistic” version of our spouses, “having” them and obliged to fulfill our version?

“Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death and brought life to light through the Gospel.” (Gospel Acclamation)