MY daily reflection and prayer:
Sunday, June 5, 2016
Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear my friends,
Here is the Gospel for us today according to St. Luke 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.
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.
***
IN today’s Gospel we encounter Jesus Christ, the Lord, who grants the sorrowful widow of Nain a new hope and joy. She has lost her only son who died and was being carried out in a funeral procession.
Let’s pay attention for a moment to the ancient funeral processions in Israel. It usually was led by professional mourners. They played flutes and cymbals, and filled the air with cries of sorrow.
In such situation, Jesus Christ shows his merciful heart to the widow who is in sorrow, grief and fear. St. Luke tells us that when the Lord Jesus sees her, he is moved with pity for her and says to her, “Do not weep.”
St. Luke also tells us that Jesus goes up to the coffin and touches it. He isn’t afraid of death. He isn’t afraid of sin, even he destroys it. Then he commands: “Young man, I tell you, arise!” And the young man sits up, and Jesus gives him back to his mother.
The dead man was his mother’s only son. We know that the son, surely, shall take care of his mother in her old age. So we can imagine that not only had this mother lost her only son, but she also had lost all security. So of course, her heart should have been broken with grief and fear.
The Lord Jesus is moved with pity for the widow. It means that his inmost being is moved, his insides of his heart and soul are churned up. It expresses the depths of Jesus’ merciful love to the widow.
What can we contemplate on this Gospel? First, Jesus Christ enters into every human situation. He wants to be present with his love and with his power. His mercy wants to touch our hearts and heal us.
Second, Jesus has the power to raise the dead to life. He has the power to give us joy and peace, if we allow him to draw near to us too.
Third, there are so many reasons for us to despair. We have so many difficulties in our life which have no solution. Jesus, however, offers a different perspective, “Do not weep.”
Fourth, we should not weep of our tragic human limitations. It should not hurt us. It gives us a chance to experience his kindness, love and mercy of the Lord. His infinite merciful love frees us from our tragic human limitations.
In the Perpetual Adoration of the Eucharist we worship Jesus Christ who gives us new hope and joy in our despair. We hope in his kindness towards us and our loved-ones.
Let’s pray: Lord Jesus Christ, with all our heart and soul we ought to be obedient to hope in you. Our life is in your hands. Help us place all of our hope in you. May we hope in your resurrection as we offer you our everyday burdens now and forever. Amen.
Kredit foto: Ilustrasi (Ist)
