Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint 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.
Arise!
1) Recognize those in need. Jesus is surrounded by people, but He has the ability to recognize those in need, those struggling; He is not blinded by praise or devotion. Please, as a Christian, do not be blind to the needs of others, learn to recognize them, do not live in fantasy land, a false reality. People or situations around you may blind you, but open your eyes and help those who need you. Today, there is someone who needs your help.
2) A woman. This woman is suffering the deepest pain, the death of a child. In this woman we see those people who have lost everything, those who feel that life no longer makes sense, those who may come to believe that the best solution is to stop living. This woman personifies those torn and without strength to keep going, the injured and hurt with the strongest and deepest wounds.
3) Get up. In the Gospel we see Jesus bringing back hope. He invites this dead young man to recover life and arise. Today, Jesus speaks to you and me, to so many young people who feel dead because maybe they cannot find a job, or because they do not feel valued or because they believe their lives do not make sense. Today, Jesus tells the youth and all of us: Arise and help raise this society. Get up and lift up. Today, Jesus tells you to get up and live!
God bless you and keep you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Always remember that Heaven is our goal.
