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,”n
and “God has visited his people.”
This report about him spread through the whole of Judea
and in all the surrounding region.
REFLECTION
When the Lord saw her,
he was moved with pity for her and said to her,
“Do not weep.”
Jesus was moved with compassion for the widow whose only son died. Why?
If a widow has no living father nor a son, then she has no means of support or protection from exploitation. She would have no home or means to afford food.
Jesus' mother, Mary, was a widow. St. Joseph had died, before Jesus began his public ministry. Mary followed Jesus to take care of his needs and to be cared for by Jesus, her only son. Mary is a widow and soon Jesus will die leaving her without any male support. Much worse will be the grief and heartbreak His mother will suffer because He is dead.
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.
Jesus' actions forshadow what will happen to His own mother. He will give His mother to His beloved disciple, John, to take care of her. He will die and be buried. He will arise from death. Of course, He will go to His mother.
Let us care for one another and help those who are vulnerable, widows, orphans, and the unwanted.
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