Today’s Reflection
Gospel: Lk 7:11-17
September 13, 2022 | Tuesday

Today’s Gospel

A little later, Jesus went to a town called Naim. He was accompanied by his disciples and a great number of people. As he reached the gate of the town, a dead man was being carried out. He was the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; there followed a large crowd of townspeople.

On seeing her, the Lord had pity on her and said, “Don’t cry.” Then he came up and touched the stretcher, and the men who carried it stopped. Jesus then said, “Young man, I say to you, wake up!” And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. A holy fear came over them all, and they praised God saying, “A great prophet has appeared among us. God has visited his people.” This news spread throughout Judea and the surrounding places.

Today’s Reflection:

The son who had died and whose body was carried out was the only one left to provide for his mother’s needs. Jesus came upon this tragic and sad scene of men carrying the dead and the sorrow felt especially by the mother. He immediately comforted the widow bereft of hope and consoled her, “do not weep.” Jesus called and raised the dead man back to life and “gave him to his mother.”

For the first time in Luke’s gospel, Jesus is being referred to as “Lord,” a title which acclaims his divinity. (CCC 209). This appellation speaks of the first confessions of the power, honor, and glory due to Jesus in “the form of God” (ibid, 449). Through Christ our Lord we assert his lordship over the world and over death. He has the power to raise the dead and bring them back to life. In the same manner, it is only our Lord who can save us from death. He raises us to live with him; in communion with him, our sorrows are turned into joy! /Vulnerasti, 2022