After healing a centurion’s servant in Capernaum, Jesus proceeded to the city of Nain, about 30 kilometers away.

Scholars believe Jesus purposely went to Nain to intercept the funeral procession of a widow’s only son. Filled with compassion, Jesus raised the boy back to life.

Jesus knew about this poor, forgotten, and destitute widow. And He came in her time of desperate need. He had to travel far to be there precisely at the right moment.

Life can be cruel at times, dishing out tough challenges that may leave us in despair. In times of discouragement, let’s remember the widow of Nain. If Jesus came to her timely aid, He will come to us as well.

Just when we are about to bury our dead dreams, our dashed hopes, and failed expectations, Jesus will come to bring them back to life. He will neither be early nor late. He will be on time. Randy Borromeo (randy.b@svrtv.com)

reflect

What dead dreams are you ready to bury? Have faith that Jesus can bring them back to life!

Jesus, when the going gets tough, remind me about the widow of Nain. You went out of Your way for her; You will also come for me.

St. John Chrysostom, bishop and Doctor of the Church, pray for us.

It is unimaginable to think of living without even one part of our body. Paul uses the analogy of the human body for the Body of Christ—the faithful—to emphasize his point about the need for unity. We all need to contribute to the faith community. Each of us has something to give that will enrich the Body of Christ, the Church.

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.

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 100:1-2, 3, 4, 5

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)

Gospel | Luke 7:11-17

The miracle of Jesus places Him in the tradition of the great Old Testament prophets Elijah and Elisha who performed similar miracles in Nain. Considering the miracle alongside the Transfiguration, Jesus indeed lives and moves as a prophet among the people. We need to interpret His words and actions as those of a prophet, so we may understand the meaning of the Gospel. However, it gets more complicated as Jesus is the fulfillment of the prophetic line. This means that the prophetic ministry after Him will have similar yet different character from that of the Old Testament prophets.

Gospel Acclamation

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 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. 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.

Read the Bible in one year! Read JEREMIAH 23 -26 today.

A Western Buddhist woman was in India, studying with her teacher. While riding with another woman friend in a carriage, a man attacked them. The attacker only succeeded in frightening the women. She asked her teacher what would have been the appropriate Buddhist response. The teacher said simply, “You should have very mindfully and with great compassion whacked the attacker over the head with your umbrella.” Even in violence, she was to be like Buddha.

Women during the time of Jesus had no legal personality of their own. They were considered second-class citizens. Their only means of livelihood was the presence of a working husband. The woman in today’s Gospel is described as a widow. Needless to say, she had no means of economic support now that she lost her son too. While carrying the widow’s son out of the city, Jesus chanced upon them at the town gate. Jesus was moved with mercy and immediately, He raised the dead boy back to life and gave him back to her mother.

Scripture scholars are quick to note the parallelism of this story with an Old Testament account of Elijah raising back from the dead the only son of a widow. When the son was given back to the mother, the widow declared to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord from your mouth is the truth” (1 Kings 17:24).

Biblical experts observe that this was the first time in the Gospel of Luke that the title Lord was ascribed to Jesus: “When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.” It seems that Luke is telling his readers that compassion for His people is one of the main attributes of the “Lord.” The last line says it most eloquently: “They were all filled with awe and praised God. ‘A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. ‘God has come to help his people.’” “Mercy” may be the name of God, according to Pope Francis, but “Compassion” is His last name in Luke.

Whenever we practice compassion and help other people, we are often told, “You are God’s angel, you are heaven-sent.” We are most like the “Lord,” most like God, when we practice compassion. Fr. Joel O. Jason

reflection question

When was the last time you went out of your way to be God-like?

Lord, make me Your heart today. Amen.

Today, I pray for: _______________________________________________