He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” The dead man sat up and began to talk... – Luke 7:14-15

       Her brother died when she was 10. Then her mother got too sick to care for the family. Consequently, her young shoulders carried all the responsibility of providing and caring for her entire family.

       She made another attempt at college education, but as expected, she didn’t make it halfway. She got married at the young age of 20. “At least, I won’t die of hunger,” she said, “There will be a husband to feed me.”

       But she kept dreaming and working. She earned money from sewing. She opened a canteen to augment her income. She took the risk of opening her first bakeshop — at the age of 50! Then the wind blew in her direction.

       With hard work as her investment, and love as her business strategy, her first bakeshop was a success. Then she opened another branch. And another. Her name? Julie Gandionco. Now, with around 500 Julie’s Bakeshop branches nationwide, it’s the biggest franchise chain in the country. She just smiles and tells everyone, “Life begins at 50.”

       Are you about to bury your dead dream? Do you feel all is lost and everything’s too late? Jesus breathes life into you and says, “Life begins now, even beyond 50.” Jon Escoto (faithatworkjon@gmail.com)

Reflection: A nagging dream you keep burying may be God’s message of life for you today.

Father, I believe that it’s never over until You say it’s over. Let me hear You with clarity and wisdom if You want me to resurrect a dream.

Sts. Cornelius, pope, and Cyprian, bishop, martyrs, pray for us.

No one is self-sufficient. We are all dependent on others in some aspects of our existence. This image of working together in order to achieve the greater final good is an important one for Christianity because the task of evangelization is too big even for many people. However, if we all share in the work, we will get there in the end.

12 Brothers and sisters: As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one Body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit. 14 Now the body is not a single part, but many. 27 Now you are Christ’s Body, and individually parts of it. 28 Some people God has designated in the church to be, first, apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers; then, mighty deeds; then, gifts of healing, assistance, administration, and varieties of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work mighty deeds? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts.

R: We are his people: the sheep of his flock.

1 Sing joyfully to the Lord, all you lands; 2 serve the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful song. (R) 3 Know that the Lord is God; he made us, his we are; his people, the flock he tends. (R) 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, his courts with praise; give thanks to him; bless his name. (R) 5 For he is good the Lord, whose kindness endures forever, and his faithfulness, to all generations. (R)

There is nothing more amazing than to witness a dead person being brought back to life. Jesus performs that miracle for the widow of Nain. Let us try to put ourselves in her situation and understand better how openness to Jesus’ work in our lives can be a transforming reality. We should never doubt the will of Jesus to change our situations, even miraculously, from complete and utter despair to one where hope springs eternal.

A great prophet has arisen in our midst and God has visited his people.

11 Jesus journeyed to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd accompanied him. 12 As he drew near to the gate of the city, a 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. 13 When the Lord saw her, he was moved with pity for her and said to her, “Do not weep.” 14 He stepped forward and touched the coffin; at this the bearers halted, and he said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!” 15 The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. 16 Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, exclaiming, “A great prophet has arisen in our midst,” and “God has visited his people.” 17 This report about him spread through the whole of Judea and in all the surrounding region.

think:  We should never doubt the will of Jesus to change our situations, even miraculously, from complete and utter despair to one where hope springs eternal.

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Psalm 111-115

YOUNG MAN, ARISE!

Once in Papua New Guinea, I was held up in traffic by a funeral passing through. The crowd was large with lots of people wailing and weeping. Often, a considerable amount of people would follow the dead as a sign of respect and honor to the dead and the bereaved.

       The scene we have in the Gospel is pitiful. A widow, whose only son has died, is on the way to the burial. According to Jewish custom, the widow had no place in society. In the eyes of society, she was considered a nobody. Having lost her only son, we could only imagine the plight of the widow. We could imagine the pity that Jesus felt for her. What must have gone on in the minds of the people as Jesus approached the coffin? In His authority, He commands the dead to rise and the boy is given back to his mother. The people praise God who has visited His people.

       Many of us are as good as dead. We may not be physically dead (otherwise you would not be reading this reflection!), but many of us are dead through our sins. We need Jesus to wake us up from our stupor and place His hand on our lives. The crowd stood still. We, too, must stand still and listen to the voice of the Lord: “Young man/woman, I tell you to get up!”

       St. Paul reminds us that we should remove the works of the night. We are sons and daughters of the day — the day which is Christ, our Light and Life. God desires to visit us and bring us back to life.

       Listen to the words of Jesus today as He speaks into your life words of authority and power. Young man, arise! Fr. Brian Steele, MGL

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: How has God visited you? Are there areas of your life that need healing and restoration?

Lord, You are the Resurrection and the Life. Give me life that I might call upon Your name. Amen.