Raising of the widow’s son

Gospel Reading: Lk 7:11-17

JESUS jour­neyed to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd ac­companied him. As he drew near to the gate of the city, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, he was moved with pity for her and said to her, “Do not weep.” He stepped forward and touched the cof­fin; at this the bearers halted, and he said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!” The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, exclaiming, “A great prophet has arisen in our midst,” and “God has vis­ited his people.” This report about him spread through the whole of Judea and in all the surrounding region.

Reflections: He was moved with pity

Jesus is moved with pity at the sight of a funeral proces­sion leaving the city of Nain. He has compassion on the mother who is burying her only son. Hardship awaits her, for she is a widow who has lost her only means of sup­port. Without help from oth­ers, she will not survive.

To reverse her situation, Jesus steps forward, touches the coffin, and commands the dead man to rise. The young man comes back to life. Jesus gives him back to his mother.

The people who witness the miracle glorify God. They can­not hold back their immedi­ate conclusion: Jesus is God’s prophet. Through him, God has visited his people. Luke picks up Zechariah’s Canticle where it says, “[God] has visited… his people” (1:68). The people recognize God’s intervention in their lives.

When a child dies, we grieve. We sympathize with the be­reaved parents. When a parent dies, we also grieve. We pity the children for their great loss.

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As Christians, we are in soli­darity with those who have lost a loved one in death. Our pres­ence expresses our compassion in their moments of bereave­ment.

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SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord,” ST PAULS,” 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.