1 Kgs 17:17-21, 22-24; Gal. 1:11-19;
Lk. 7:11-17
The First Reading from the First Book
of Kings [1 Kgs 17:17-21, 22-24] took place in the days of the great drought
that was long remembered and even recorded in the Tyrian annals. When Elijah
visited the widow's house, she felt that Elijah had been sent by God to make
sure that she knew why her son had died. According to the mentality that
prevailed in the
days of the Old Testament [Jn. 9:2], the people believed that bad things happened as a punishment for their sins. So did the woman too. But after Elijah's prayerful intercession to God, the child was revived and Elijah gave him back to his mother. This event, the resurrection of the widow's son, enhanced the reputation of the Prophet Elijah and thereby helped to establish the authority of his word.
days of the Old Testament [Jn. 9:2], the people believed that bad things happened as a punishment for their sins. So did the woman too. But after Elijah's prayerful intercession to God, the child was revived and Elijah gave him back to his mother. This event, the resurrection of the widow's son, enhanced the reputation of the Prophet Elijah and thereby helped to establish the authority of his word.
Today's Reading from the Gospel of Luke
[Lk. 7:11-17] is a record of the event that took place in a village called Nain
(modern Nein). Here Jesus affirms his authority over death.
Death is a grand mystery. Throughout
time, every major religion, philosophy, and spiritual train of thought has
sought to explain this mystery. It is a subject that touches the life of every
man and woman, uniting the entire human race under a cloud of inevitable
mortality. The mystery of death is so profound that, despite the millennia of
religious doctrine, mythology, scientific research, and the many theories and
explanations that exist on the subject, people today are more confused than
ever about it.
The son of the widow of
Zarephatah brought back to life by Elijah died again. The
son of the widow of Nain brought back to life by Jesus died again. Lazarus
raised by Jesus died again. These are signs to show the power of men of
God over death, the only phenomenon over which men stand powerless. Emperors
and kings fell at the feet of death as helpless. Generals and
soldiers stood aghast when faced with death. Men of letters and men of courage
fell back. The simple and the ignorant conceived it as invincible. The
rich and the poor alike meet the same end; the black and the white both go to
the grave; the powerful and the humble all leave this planet eventually. But
Jesus confronted it, and he overcame it.
From the time immemorial men had been
trying to overcome death. In mythology there are stories of
men struggling to grab elixir of life, to keep themselves
immortal. But death remained as a fearful entity till Jesus won the decisive
battle over death and rose from the death.
Starting with baptism our life is a
struggle against death. The moment we surrender to God a new, vigorous,
indescribable life will flow into our body transforming it into a
glorious and powerful one. So let us surrender us to the will of God as
Jesus surrendered himself to his father.
Satish