“Arise!” by Melanie Rigney (@melanierigney)

Matthias Gerung [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Tuesday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Beloved, this saying is trustworthy: whoever aspires to the office of bishop desires a noble task. (1 Timothy 3:1)

I will walk with blameless heart. (Psalm 101:2)

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. (Luke 7:12-15)

Piety

Jesus, be with me as the parts of my life that are displeasing to you are put to death.

Study

Jesus was in midst of his public ministry when the scene from Luke 7 unfolds. He’s fresh from Capernaum, where he healed the centurion’s slave without touching or seeing him, and a large crowd has accompanied him to Nain. It’s easy to imagine a joyful, somewhat festive atmosphere.

And then, they encounter another crowd. A widow’s only son has died, and is being carried out. We are told Jesus is moved with pity, touches the coffin, and instructs the son to arise. And. He. Does.

It will be less than three years before a large crowd accompanies Jesus into another city, a city where the only son of a widow will die. This time, the crowd that is with the widow as the son is being carried out to his tomb will be not be large by anyone’s estimation. But what happens to him just a few days later will change the world forever. It will start a revolution—and give the world hope.

Action

Pray with or for your parents, or those who have been like parents to you.