Gospel: Luke 7: 11-17

Today’s Gospel presents the episode of the resurrection of the son of the widow of Nain. The Evangelist wants to show that Jesus opens the road, revealing the novelty of God which is presented to us in the announcement of the Good News. 

 

And in this way the transformation and openness take place: Jesus accepts the request of a centurion, a no Jew and resurrects the son of a widow. The way in which Jesus reveals the Kingdom surprises the Jewish brothers who were not accustomed to such great openness. Even John the Baptist is surprised and orders to go and ask: “Are you the one who is to come or are we to expect someone else? ” 

 

Luke is like a painter. With few words he succeeds to paint a very beautiful picture on the encounter of the two processions: the procession of death which is going out of the city and accompanies the widow who is taking her only son towards the cemetery; the procession of life which enters the city and accompanies Jesus. The two meet in the small square at the side of the gate of the town.

 

It is compassion which moves Jesus to speak and to act. Compassion signifies literally: “to suffer with”. It is compassion which puts into action the power of Jesus, the power of life over death, the creative power.

 

The intention of the Gospel is that of helping us to experience better the living presence of Jesus in our midst. It is the same Jesus, who continues alive in our midst, capable of overcoming death and the sorrow of death. He is with us today, and in the face of the problems of sorrow which strike us, He tells us: “I tell you, get up!”.