Word to the Wise
Tuesday, September 16, 2025 - Tuesday in the 24th Week in Ordinary Time
[1 Tim 3:1-13 and Luke 7:11-17]As [Jesus] 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....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]
SEPTEMBER 16 STS. CORNELIUS AND CYPRIAN [martyrs]
Jesus' response to the grief of the mother of Nain is filled with meaning. Just on the level of sympathy, it is moving, but there is more. It shows his power over life and death and resembles what would occur in the raising of Lazarus [John 11]. But there is still more. Jesus' himself was the only son of a widowed mother and he would rise from the dead. Perhaps the situation was intended to be a hint of his future in Jerusalem? A widow without a close male relative was considered to be one of the most vulnerable people in the culture of Jesus' time. His future gesture of giving his own mother to the care of the Beloved Disciple comes to mind. [John 19:26-27]
Each of the four gospels presents a portrait of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. The tradition of the Church is to read them together in order to gain a full understanding, a "big picture." When read in a chronological way, the development of Christian faith can be seen, especially when accompanied by a similar reading of St. Paul's letters. Although each scene can stand on its own [like the one in today's gospel passage], each scene is part of a bigger message about God's plan of salvation. AMEN