June 9, 2013: 10th Sunday in Ordinary Time

“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.” (Luke 7: 11-17)

Action:

Have you ever felt uneasy about what to say or do when approaching someone who has lost a beloved person or pet? Sometimes it is helpful to remember how someone else has supported us in our times of loss. In this account of today’s Good News, Jesus chooses to use human touch as a means of offering comfort to a grieving mother. Even if our tender connection does not bring the lost person or pet back to life, at least the grieving person can have a sense of new life because of our loving contact with them.