{"id":3564,"date":"2016-06-03T22:22:52","date_gmt":"2016-06-03T22:22:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/?p=3564"},"modified":"2016-06-03T22:22:52","modified_gmt":"2016-06-03T22:22:52","slug":"commentary-on-10th-sunday-of-the-year-c-5-06-2016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/commentary-on-10th-sunday-of-the-year-c-5-06-2016\/","title":{"rendered":"Commentary on 10th Sunday of the year C 5.06.2016"},"content":{"rendered":"

TEXT \u2014 Luke 07: 11\u201317 \u2014 Raising to life of son of widow of Nain<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

A dead man is carried to burial<\/strong><\/p>\n

11: Soon afterward he went to a city called Na\u2019in, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. 12: As he drew near to the gate of the city, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a large crowd from the city was with her. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYoung man, I say to you, arise.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

13: And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, \u201cDo not weep.\u201d 14: And he came and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, \u201cYoung man, I say to you, arise.\u201d 15: And the dead man sat up, and began to speak. And he gave him to his mother.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cA great prophet has arisen among us!\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

16: Fear seized them all; and they glorified God, saying, \u201cA great prophet has arisen among us!\u201d and \u201cGod has visited his people!\u201d 17: And this report concerning him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country. <\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

EXPLANATION<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

11: Soon afterward he went to a city called Na\u2019in, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cSoon afterward he went to a city called Na\u2019in, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him<\/em>\u201d \u2014 \u201cSoon afterward<\/em>\u201d refers to after the cure of the centurion\u2019s slave which Luke records in the previous verses (Lk. 7: 1\u201310).<\/p>\n

\u201cNain<\/em>\u201d was a village about six miles south\u2013east of Nazareth. The Hebrews did not have a word for \u2018town\u2019 and often described a town or large village as a \u201ccity<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201ca great crowd<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Luke stresses the size of the crowd to which he will add \u201cthe large crowd from the city <\/em>[\u201cvillage\u201d as already explained]\u201d who were the mourners and the numbers of others who gathered at the gate of the city.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

12: As he drew near to the gate of the city, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a large crowd from the city was with her.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAs he drew near to the gate of the city<\/em>\u201d \u2014 \u201cthe gate of the city<\/em>\u201d was where much of the life of a village, town and city, such as meetings, business deals, and judgements, took place. There would be a considerable number of people there. This enhanced the size of the two large groups mentioned in the passage.<\/p>\n

\u201cbehold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother and she was a widow<\/em>\u201d \u2014 As a widow, having lost her husband and now her only son, she would have no economic support. She could look forward only to a bleak, impoverished future. The family line had come to an end and that was an additional sorrow for the mother and grounds for compassion on Jesus\u2019 part. There was no one now to defend her, support her or take her case in hand. A large crowd accompanied her. No doubt these were people of her own social status. She is a figure\u2013head of the poor and destitute, those truly in need.<\/p>\n

\u201cand a large crowd from the city was with her<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Two large crowds travelling in procession meet. Jesus is the leader of one; the other is led by the poor widow burying her only son. The former is a procession of life; the latter one of death.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

13: And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, \u201cDo not weep.\u201d 14: And he came and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd when the Lord saw her\u201d<\/em> \u2014 \u201cThe Lord<\/em>\u201d is a title that refers to the risen Jesus. He is about to do something divine. This is the first of eighteen times Luke uses the title in his Gospel (Lk. 10: 1, 39, 41; 11: 39; 12: 42; 13: 15; 17: 5\u20136; 18: 6, etc.). It is very fitting that it should be used in this passage where Jesus will raise the young man to life, a foreshadowing of his own resurrection.<\/p>\n

\u201che had compassion on her and said to her, <\/em>\u2018Do not weep<\/em>\u2019\u201d \u2014 Jesus is deeply touched by the widow\u2019s loss, her \u201conly son<\/em>\u201d. He does not say much to her; he acts. As one on his way to Jerusalem and crucifixion it is not beyond credibility that he thought of his own mother accompanying him to the tomb in a short time.<\/p>\n

In Luke\u2019s version of the Sermon on the Mount, referred to as the Sermon on the Plain, Jesus had instructed his disciples to be \u201ccompassionate as your Father is compassionate<\/em>\u201d (Lk. 6: 36). Here is a real lesson in practical compassion.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd he came and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still<\/em>\u201d \u2014 No one asks Jesus to do anything. He takes the initiative and stops the funeral. By touching the bier Jesus became ritually unclean (Nm. 19: 11, 16). His compassion for the mother was greater than his respect for this particular law, knowing that he was about to do something great, restore life to a dead man.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

And he said, \u201cYoung man, I say to you, arise.\u201d 15: And the dead man sat up, and began to speak. And he gave him to his mother.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd he said, <\/em>\u2018Young man, I say to you, arise\u2019 And the dead man sat up, and began to speak.<\/em>\u201d \u2014 \u201cArise<\/em>\u201d is a word linked with the resurrection. See Lk. 5: 23\u201324 (the paralytic), 6: 8 (the man with the withered hand), 7: 22 (\u201cthe dead are raised up<\/em>\u201d). By mentioning that the young man \u201cbegan to speak<\/em>\u201d Luke shows that he was fully restored to life.<\/p>\n

The Catechism of the Catholic Church<\/em> says that \u201cJesus links faith in the resurrection to his own person: \u2018I am the Resurrection and the life<\/em>.\u2019 It is Jesus himself who on the last day will raise up those who have believed in him, who have eaten his body and drunk his blood. Already now in this present life he gives a sign and pledge of this by restoring some of the dead to life, announcing thereby his own Resurrection, though it was to be of another order\u201d (CCC<\/em>, 994).<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd he gave him to his mother<\/em>\u201d \u2014 These words are the exact words used by Elijah when he raised the son of the widow of Zarephath to life, \u201cElijah took the child, brought him down from the upper chamber into the house, and gave him to his mother; then Elijah said, \u201cSee, your son is alive.\u201d So the woman said to Elijah, \u201cNow I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth<\/em>\u201d (I Kgs. 17: 23\u201324). The mother declared Elijah to be a prophet. The crowd realised the similarity between the two scenes and in verse 16 will declare Jesus to be a prophet.<\/p>\n

See also II Kgs. 4: 8\u201337 where Elisha the prophet raised the son of the Shunammite widow.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

16: Fear seized them all; and they glorified God, saying, \u201cA great prophet has arisen among us! and \u201cGod has visited his people!\u201d 17: And this report concerning him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cFear seized them all<\/em>\u201d \u2014 the word \u201cfear<\/em>\u201d describes not terror but awe, wonder, amazement. This induces the reaction of glorifying God.<\/p>\n

\u201cand they glorified God<\/em>\u201d \u2014 They glorified God, not Jesus. To \u201cglorify God\u201d is to acknowledge God\u2019s divinity and it is the normal reaction of people who witness God working among them (Lk. 5: 25\u201326; 13: 13; 17: 15; 18: 43; 23: 47).<\/p>\n

\u201csaying, <\/em>\u2018A great prophet has arisen among us!<\/em>\u2019\u201d \u2014 This means that a great prophet has been appointed (Jdg. 2: 16; 3: 9; Dt. 13: 1). They recognise Jesus as a prophet like Elijah and Elisha who raised young men, whose mothers were widows, to life.<\/p>\n

Jesus as prophet is a theme in Luke\u2019s Gospel. (i) He may refer to himself as having the characteristics of a prophet (Lk, 4: 24; 13: 33). (ii) Jesus having the power of a prophet is mentioned in Lk. 7: 16, 39; 9: 8\u20139, 19; 24: 19. (iii) He acts as a prophet, speaking in the name of his Father, on about fifteen occasions.<\/p>\n

\u201cand <\/em>\u2018God has visited his people!<\/em>\u2019\u201d \u2014 This is a phrase from the Old Testament. It means that God has come close to his people and the kingdom of God is at hand (Lk. 1: 68, 78; 7: 16; 19: 44).<\/p>\n

The Catechism of the Catholic Church<\/em> states, \u201cChrist’s compassion toward the sick and his many healings of every kind of infirmity are a resplendent sign that \u2018God has visited his people<\/em>\u2019 and that the Kingdom of God is close at hand. Jesus has the power not only to heal, but also to forgive sins; he has come to heal the whole man, soul and body; he is the physician the sick have need of (CCC, 1503).<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd this report <\/em>[literally, \u2018this word\u2019] concerning him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Jesus\u2019 fame is spreading throughout a large area.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

APPLICATION<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n
    \n
  1. What does this passage tell us about Jesus?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    This short passage teaches us five things about Jesus:<\/p>\n

    (i)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Jesus is Lord, which means that he is divine and has the power of God over life and death.<\/p>\n

    (ii)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Jesus is the expected Messiah. This is the message he sent to John the Baptist who had his disciples query Jesus, \u201cAre you the one who is to come or must we wait for someone else?<\/em> (Lk. 7: 22). \u201cAnd he answered them, \u2018Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them<\/em>\u201d (Lk. 7: 22). These were signs indicating that the promised Messiah has come.<\/p>\n

    (iii)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In and through Jesus God has visited his people. This is a common biblical expression meaning that God has come to examine the peoples\u2019 situation and will act as necessary to relieve them. God has concern for his people.<\/p>\n

    (iv)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Jesus is a person of deep compassion, moved by the sufferings of others, especially those who are weak. He cannot be neutral but must act to do what is needed.<\/p>\n

    (v)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Jesus has come to bring salvation to the living and the dead; our God is loving, he heals and saves. In Luke\u2019s Gospel; this is a sign that he forgives sin. The Fathers of the Church, the early writers, saw in the widow a symbol of Mother Church weeping for her children who are dead by sin but could be restored to life by Jesus if they would be in contact with him.<\/p>\n

    Because the crowd declared him to be a great prophet, like the greatest of the prophets, Elijah and Elisha, we ask the question, \u2018was Jesus a prophet?\u2019<\/p>\n

    \u201cProphetes<\/em>\u201d, the Greek word for \u2018prophet\u2019, means \u2018one who speaks before others\u2019. Jesus never presented himself as a prophet because he is the Messiah, the promised one foretold by prophets. He spoke with the authority of his Father but also with his own authority (\u201cTruly, truly, I say to you\u2026\u201d) which the prophets could not do.<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Physical and Spiritual Death<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      The Catechism of the Catholic Church<\/em> reminds us that \u201cDeath is the end of man’s earthly pilgrimage, of the time of grace and mercy which God offers him so as to work out his earthly life in keeping with the divine plan, and to decide his ultimate destiny\u201d (CCC<\/em>, 1013). People are given a life\u2013time to decide on accepting or rejecting God\u2019s invitation to live the life taught by Jesus. Life is the time when each decides on living with or without God in this life and in the next. \u201cGod predestines no one to go to hell; for this, a willful turning away from God (a mortal sin) is necessary, and persistence in it until the end. In the Eucharistic liturgy and in the daily prayers of her faithful, the Church implores the mercy of God, who does not want \u2018any to perish, but all to come to repentance\u2019\u201d (CCC<\/em>, 1037).<\/p>\n

      One of the deeper messages from this passage is that death as such does not separate people from God. St Paul states this and enlarges: \u201cFor I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord<\/em>\u201d (Rm. 8: 38\u201339).<\/p>\n

      What does separate us from God is mortal sin. God wants to and can raise people who are dead in sin to return to his life. Indeed, in the story of the \u201cProdigal Son\u201d or \u201cMerciful Father\u201d, Luke has the father say twice that \u201cmy son was dead and is alive again<\/em>\u201d (Lk. 15: 24, 32). Just as Jesus raised the widow\u2019s son to life, God\u2019s compassion can raise the sinner to share in God\u2019s life. Sin is the only thing which can separate us from God and he can forgive sins (Lk. 7: 36\u20148: 3). There is always hope. What is necessary is that the sinner who chooses to cut him\/herself off from God makes the decision to come back and seek forgiveness.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      TEXT \u2014 Luke 07: 11\u201317 \u2014 Raising to life of son of widow of Nain A dead man is carried to burial 11: Soon afterward he went to a city called Na\u2019in, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. 12: As he drew near to the gate of the city, behold, a<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3565,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3564","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commentary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3564","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3564"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3564\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3566,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3564\/revisions\/3566"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3565"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3564"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3564"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3564"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}