Seen, Known, and Loved

Gospel Reflection for Sept. 17th, 2024 - 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.

In today’s Gospel we encounter a terrible scene, of death, grief, and despair. A woman, who is identified as a widow, has now lost her only son. From what we know of this time, Jewish women had very little rights in the way of owning property and money, her security was tied to the closest male relative, such as a son, or her husband.

This woman we see has lost both her husband and now her son. Her fate is unknown, and she is now completely exposed, besides the grief she must be experiencing, there is undoubtedly fear and anxiety over the future. How is she to live? How can she possible move forward in society?

When Jesus comes upon her He is moved to pity and offers consolation “do not weep”. He knows what the death of her son means for her, her life going forward, and in His great love He raises her son from the dead.

This moment is miraculous on it’s face because a man is raised from the dead, and that could be enough for us. Yet, there is more to this story. Beyond this incredible scene another miracle has occurred, a woman is saved from a most terrible and agonizing fate. Her dignity is restored within the society she lives. Her security is revived. She can go forward without fear or anxiety of the future.

In so many ways we are like this woman, worrying about the future, thinking we are overlooked by God, and carrying great burdens. Today’s Gospel shows us that our Lord cares for both the big things, matters of life and death, and also the seemingly smaller parts of our lives that are not as readily apparent but just as important to us. He sees all and cares about all that we do. We see that He not only cares but He acts upon that love for us.

All we have to do is ask Him.

The raising of the widow's son in Nain by Jan Verhas