Luke 7:11-17

1 Timothy 3:1-13

Psalm 101:1b-2ab, 2cd-3ab, 5, 6

Luke 7:11-17

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.

Opening Prayer: Lord God, you have visited your people and continue to visit your people. You call me to eternal communion with you and will raise me up through your Son. I praise and glorify you for who you are and thank you for all you have done for me.

Encountering the Word of God

1. Parallels with Elijah: When Jesus restores the widow of Nain’s son to life, the miracle he accomplishes refers back to how the prophets Elijah and Elisha both restored people to life. Jesus himself, when he preached in the synagogue at Nazareth, recalled how Elijah and Elisha both did mighty works for Gentiles. Elijah and Elisha both prophesied in Northern Israel, the same territory that Jesus is now ministering in. Just as Elijah was met by a widow at the gate of a city (1 Kings 17:10), so also Jesus encountered the widow and her dead son at the gate of the city of Nain. In the case of Elijah, he raised the widow’s son by praying: “Lord, my God, let the life breath return to the body of this child” (1 Kings 17:21). Just as Elijah gave the son to his mother (1 Kings 17:23), so also Jesus gave the son to his mother. Jesus’ “outreach is in keeping with the spirit of Old Testament commandments regarding care for widows (Deut 14:28-29; 24:17, 19-21; 26:12-13), but by showing pity (or ‘compassion,’ RSV), he fulfills his own command. ‘Be merciful’ (Luke 6:36)” (Gadenz, The Gospel of Luke, 143).

2. Parallels with Elisha: When the people of Nain saw that Jesus restored the widow’s son to life, they all glorified God and proclaimed Jesus as a great prophet. This title evokes the prophecy of Moses that God would raise up a prophet like himself (Deuteronomy 18:15). Elijah and Elisha were both prophets-like-Moses, but they were not the ultimate fulfillment of the prophecy. Jesus is truly the prophet-like-Moses, and his mighty works far surpass those of Elijah and Elisha. “As a prophet, Jesus is like Elijah, who raised the son of the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:17-24), and Elisha, who raised the son of the Shunammite woman (2 Kings 4:32-37). As ‘Lord’ (Luke 713), Jesus is greater than these prophets, healing by his own word rather than by praying to God. In the saving help that Jesus brings, God has visited his people, as in the days of Moses (Exodus 4:31; 13:19 RSV) and as prophesied earlier in the Gospel (Luke 1:68, 78). Because of the miracle, Jesus’ fame continues to spread (4:14, 37; 5:15)” (Gadenz, The Gospel of Luke, 144).

3. The Royal and Prophetic Roles of Bishops: In the First Reading, Paul is giving Timothy a list of the qualities that the bishops (overseers) and deacons (servants) of the Church should possess. He first points out that the man who aspires to the office of bishop desires a noble task. This desire should not be a disordered one for power and prestige, but is truly a desire to serve as Christ did and care for the Church as Christ did. Paul lists the following qualities for a bishop: “a bishop must be irreproachable, married only once, temperate, self-controlled, decent, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not aggressive, but gentle, not contentious, not a lover of money” (1 Timothy 3:2-3). A bishop, according to Catholic theology, is conformed to Christ, who is priest, prophet, and king. The prophetic role is seen especially in the teaching authority of the Bishop, who needs to safeguard the deposit of the Church’s faith. The kingly role is seen in the pastoral governance of the bishop. And here Paul gives sage advice. He tells Timothy to look at how the man governs and manages his own household and how his children behave, “for if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how can he take care of the church of God” (1 Timothy 3:5). This is similar to the teaching of Jesus, who says that the one who is faithful in small things, will be faithful in greater ones (see Luke 16:10) and can be entrusted with greater responsibilities. 

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I contemplate today the great sign of restoring the widow’s son to life. You have restored me from death to new life through Baptism and granted me the grace of eternal life. Raise me up on the last day to enjoy your eternal presence.

Living the Word of God: Am I praying for and supporting my local bishop? What am I asking for in prayer? How am I supporting him concretely in his pastoral mission?