Today our Gospel tells us about the widow of Naim. This is a very sad account for she has already lost her husband and now her only son. This means from a cultural perspective that she has nobody to provide for her needs. This task would of been left to her son, but now he had gone before her into everlasting life. Therefore, she would have to lower herself to the status of a beggar in order to survive.
We notice in our Gospel that a funeral procession is taking place. Within this procession we see those who mourn at the death of this son. The Lord takes notice of them and touching the bier restores life to her son. There are only three cases where it is recorded that the Lord raised the dead and this was one of them. In the other two accounts, the raising of Lazarus and the raising of Jairus’ daughter. In both of these accounts another came to the Lord in order that they may be raised. Due to the faith of another life was restored to these two individuals. When it concerns the son of the widow of Naim the Lord was the one who initiated what was to take place.
This is an important lesson for the Lord always brings with Him life. His words were, “young man, I tell you arise!” We must remember that death is a consequence of sin. Death came about due to the Fall when Adam and Eve chose to rebel against God and eat of the forbidden fruit of the Tree of Knowledge. Despite this death which was begun at the Fall there was a collision between life and death. It was life which ultimately won out for the Lord is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”
The Lord took on our human nature and died upon the cross in order that we too could have life everlasting. It is the Lord alone who is the hope of our salvation. He continues to come to us in our need and assist us in living a life which leads towards everlasting life. Sadly, there are those who turn away from Him and would rather live in this state of sin and death. They want nothing to do with His mercy which endures forever.
This Gospel should be uplifting to each of us. This Gospel should be one of hope for through it we see the concern of the Lord that we may live instead of stay dead. As is stated in the Book of Revelation: “I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.”
Therefore, let us frequent the sacrament of confession. For here we meet the same compassion that the Lord showered upon this woman. From this sacrament we come to be healed of sin and death and are reoriented unto the Lord. The Lord never desires that we be left all along as this woman would of been, but that we may come to trust in Him and live for He is “the Resurrection and the life.”
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