GOSPEL READING:
Luke 7:11-1711 Soon afterward he went to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. 12 As he drew near to the gate of the city, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a large crowd from the city was with her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep." 14 And he came and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, arise." 15 And the dead man sat up, and began to speak. And he gave him to his mother. 16 Fear seized them all; and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has arisen among us!" and "God has visited his people!" 17 And this report concerning him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.
Meditation: How do you respond to the misfortunes of
others? In a number of places the Gospel records that Jesus was
"moved to the depths of his heart" when he met with individuals
and with groups of people. Our modern use of the word "compassion"
doesn't fully convey the deeper meaning of the original Hebrew
word which expresses heart-felt "sympathy" and personal
identification with the suffering person's grief and physical
condition. Why was Jesus so moved on this occasion when he met a
widow and a crowded funeral procession on their way to the
cemetery? Jesus not only grieved the untimely death of a young
man, but he showed the depth of his concern for the woman who lost
not only her husband, but her only child as well. The only secure
means of welfare in biblical times was one's family. This woman
had lost not only her loved ones, but her future security and
livelihood as well.
Jesus is lord of the living and the dead
The Scriptures make clear that God takes no pleasure in the death
of anyone (see Ezekiel 33:11) - he desires life, not death. Jesus
not only had heart-felt compassion for the widow who lost her only
son, he also had extraordinary supernatural power - the ability to
restore life and to make a person whole again. Jesus, however, did
something which must have shocked the sensibilities of the widow
and her friends. Jesus approached the bier to make physical
contact with the dead man. The Jews understood that contact with a
dead body made oneself ritually unclean or impure. Jesus' physical
touch and personal identification with the widow's loss of her
only son not only showed the depths of his love and concern for
her, but pointed to his desire to free everyone from the power of
sin and moral corruption, and even death itself. Jesus' simple
word of command - "Young man, arise" - not only restored him to
physical life, but brought freedom and wholeness to his soul as
well as his body.
The Lord Jesus has power to restore us to wholeness of life
- now and forever
This miracle took place near the spot where the prophet Elisha
raised another mother's son back to life again (see 2 Kings
4:18-37). Jesus claimed as his own one whom death had seized as
its prey. By his word of power he restored life for a lad marked
for death. Jesus is Lord not only of the living but of the dead as
well. When Jesus died on the cross for our sins he also triumphed
over the grave when he rose again on the third day, just as he had
promised his disciples. Jesus promises everyone who believes in
him, that because he lives (and will never die again), we also
shall have abundant life with and in him both now and forever
(John 14:19). Do you trust in the Lord Jesus to give you abundant
life and everlasting hope in the face of life's trials,
misfortunes, and moments of despair?
Lord Jesus, your healing presence brings life and restores us to wholeness of mind, body, and spirit. Speak your word to me and give me renewed hope, strength, and courage to follow you in the midst of life's sorrows and joys.
Psalm 101:1-6
1 I will sing of loyalty and of justice; to you, O LORD, I will sing.
2 I will give heed to the way that is blameless. Oh when will you come to me? I will walk with integrity of heart within my house;
3 I will not set before my eyes anything that is base. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cleave to me.
4 Perverseness of heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil.
5 Him who slanders his neighbor secretly I will destroy. The man of haughty looks and arrogant heart I will not endure.
6 I will look with favor on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he who walks in the way that is blameless shall minister to me.
Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: The dead man who meets the Life and the Resurrection, by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD)
"The dead man was being buried, and many friends were conducting
him to his tomb. Christ, the life and resurrection, meets him
there. He is the Destroyer of death and of corruption. He is the
One in whom we live and move and are (Acts 17:28). He is who has
restored the nature of man to that which it originally was and has
set free our death-fraught flesh from the bonds of death. He had
mercy upon the woman, and that her tears might be stopped, he
commanded saying, 'Weep not.' Immediately the cause of her weeping
was done away."(excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE,
HOMILY 36)
