Lectionary: 444
Reading 1
1 cor 12:12-14, 27-31a
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.
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.
Now the body is not a single part, but many.
Now you are Christ’s Body, and individually parts of it.
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.
Are all Apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers?
Do all work mighty deeds? Do all have gifts of healing?
Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?
Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts.
Responsorial Psalm
ps 10:1b-2, 3, 4, 5
R. (3) We are his people: the sheep of his flock.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
serve the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful song.
R. We are his people: the sheep of his flock.
Know that the LORD is God;
he made us, his we are;
his people, the flock he tends.
R. We are his people: the sheep of his flock.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
his courts with praise;
Give thanks to him; bless his name.
R. We are his people: the sheep of his flock.
For he is good, the LORD, whose kindness endures forever,
and his faithfulness, to all generations.
R. We are his people: the sheep of his flock.
Gospel
lk 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.
REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
THEME: A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH
Jesus "stepped forward and touched the litter." –Luke 7:14
According to the law of Moses, Jesus became unclean by touching the dead man (Nm 19:11). Jesus, the Life (Jn 11:25; 14:6), gave to the young man new and abundant life (Jn 10:10). In so doing, Jesus took upon Himself the uncleanness of death (Mt 8:17). However, death has no power over Jesus (Rm 6:9).
Jesus raised the young man by His spoken word. Once Jesus spoke the words, "Young man, I bid you get up," the "dead man sat up" (Lk 7:14, 15). His word is life (Jn 6:63). When Jesus speaks the word, healing and life ensue (Lk 7:7, 10, 14-15).
By sheer mercy, Jesus defeated a situation dominated by death. No one asked Him to intervene, and no faith seemed to be involved. Jesus is Mercy incarnate. Mercy is His very nature, and so Jesus had mercy on the bereaved mother and raised her son from death to life. This foreshadowed His saving death on the cross. No one asked God to send His Son to die for us, and no one even imagined such a thing. He simply looked upon us with mercy and brought life and light into our gloomy existence (Is 9:1).
Once we were dead because of our sins (Eph 2:1). However, "God is rich in mercy; because of His great love for us He brought us to life with Christ when we were dead in sin" (Eph 2:4-5). Alleluia!
PRAYER: Jesus, "You have the words of eternal life" (Jn 6:68). Touch this culture of death and make it stop (Lk 7:14). Speak Your words of life to us and usher in a new civilization of life.
PROMISE: "God has visited His people." –Lk 7:16
PRAISE: St. Cyprian was told in a vision that he would be beheaded in a year, so he listened to the Holy Spirit and wrote an exhortation to those who would be called to suffer martyrdom.
Be an inspiration, kindly Share.
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