“God has visited his people” is an expression which is repeated in the Scripture. They are words which have special meaning, different from that of such expressions as “God has spoken to his people” or “God has given the Commandments to his people” or even “God has sent a prophet to his people”.

In the statement “God has visited his people”there is something extra. This phrase can be found in the Scripture; it is written, for example, “God visited [Naomi] in her old age and made her a grandmother”. And likewise, Scripture tells of Elizabeth.

So, when God visits his people, it means that he is present in a special way. Andin this Gospel passage, where it describes the resurrection of the young man, the son of the widowed mother, the people speak these words: ‘God has visited us’.

God visits first of all with his presence, with his closeness. In the passage from the day’s liturgy, it is written that Jesus went to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. In essence, he was close to the people: God who is close and able to understand the heart of his people. Thus “God visits his people”, he is in the midst of his people. Hence, closeness is God’s way.

Additionally,there is an expression repeated many times in the Bible: “the Lord was moved by great compassion”. And it is that same compassion which, the Gospel says. Closeness and compassion: this is how the Lord visits his people.