Nhiều người trong chúng ta đã chết rồi mà không biết. Chúng ta đã chết khi chúng ta đã không còn nắm bắt được những ý nghĩa đích thực của cuộc sống, chúng ta thực sự đã chết, mặc dù rằng khi thân thể chúng ta di động, còn hít thở không khí của trần gian. Chúng ta sống chẳng khác gì cái thây ma, bởi vì chúng ta như cái máy vô cảm chỉ biết làm việc chăm chỉ, ăn uống và sống chỉ để thỏa mãn những dục vọng xác thịt của chúng ta, chúng ta chạy đua với vận tốc cao mà không cần định hướng. Bởi vì nơi chúng ta qua là những bận rộn, chúng ta không bao giờ thật sự có thời giờ để suy nghĩ tất cả những gì cho cuộc sống. Chúng ta có rất ít thời gian hoặc không có thời gian nào cho Thiên Chúa. Lý do thâm niên của chúng ta là "Chúng ta quá bận rộn." Khi bệnh tật nằm liệt giường, thật tình mà nói đó là một ân phúc và cũng là môt phúc lành được ngụy trang để cho chúng ta được dừng lại và tạm nghỉ để tính đến cuộc sống của chúng ta và đó cũng là một cơ hội để chúng ta có thể bắt đầu kiểm tra cuộc sống, để chúng ta tự hiểu được rằng những gì mới thực sự là đièu quan trọng cho cuộc sống của chúng ta.
Hôm nay Chúa Giêsu làm cho chàng thanh niên trẻ được sống lại, Ngài cũng đang cố gắng làm cho chúng ta được sống lại từ giấc ngủ vùi sâu trong cuộc sống hôm nay, Ngài mời gọi chúng ta thức dậy để nhìn được bức tranh to hơn của cuộc sống. Con người chúng ta đã được tạo ra, là để SỐNG và để YÊU, được yêu. Tình yêu là những gì làm cho cuộc sống của chúng ta có ý nghĩa. Tình Yêu là để cho chính mình và cho người khác, như Chúa Kitô đã làm. Chúng ta hãy nên có "nỗi sợ Thánh Thiện" để được sống nhưng không sống trong sự áp đảo quá nhiều của thế giới vật chất mà chúng ta đã quên rằng thế giới này đang qua đi quá nhanh mà chúng ta chỉ kẻ đi qua đường. Chúng ta có thể còn sống trong cái thể xác hay hư mất của chúng ta. Ngày hôm nay Chúa Kitô đến để "lấp đầy cuộc sống của chúng ta" với niềm tin và tình yêu. Vì khi chúng ta mất đi cuộc sống của chúng ta, là khi chúng ta sẽ tìm thấy nó và chúng ta đã thật sự là còn sống.
Many of us are already dead without knowing it. When we have lost grasp of the true meaning of life, we are actually dead, even if our bodies move around physically. We are like zombies, working hard, eating and living just to satisfy our concupiscence of the flesh, running the rat race without any spiritual direction.
We never really have time to think about what life is all about. We have very little time or no time for God. Our perennial excuse is "We are too busy." When sickness makes us bedridden, sometimes it is a blessing in disguise for us to stop and pause, take account of our lives and start examining what is really important in life.
Today Jesus is also attempting to resurrect us from our deep sleep, inviting us to wake up to see the bigger picture of life. We were created, we LIVE in order to LOVE. Love is what makes life meaningful. It is to give ourselves for others, as Christ has done.
Let us have this "holy fear" to be alive and not be overwhelmed to dwell too much in the world that we forget that this world is passing and we are just passing through. We may be physically alive but in a state of eschatological death. Christ comes today to "fill our lives" with faith and love. When we lose our life, we will find it and really be alive.
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. Luke 7:11–12
Try to imagine this mother. She had been married, she and her husband had a child, they raised their child, she and her son watched her husband die, and then she watched her son die and was participating in his funeral. Since he was her only son, she was now alone.
When we think about this woman, it is easy to feel compassion for her. Her heart would have been filled with a sorrow that is tangible to anyone with empathy. Her heart might also have been filled with fear. At that time, a widow would have had a very difficult time taking care of herself in a rural village. With her husband gone, she would have had to rely upon her son to provide for her as she aged. But now that he was gone, her heart would have not only felt the pain of his loss, but also fear for her future. What would become of her? Who would provide food for her year after year? Would she be reduced to begging and poverty?
It is in the context of this very real sorrow and fear that Jesus enters her life. We do not know if she knew anything about Jesus. It appears she was not one of His followers and might not have even heard about Jesus since He had not been ministering publicly for very long. Jesus’ encounter with her and her dead son appears to be unplanned and unexpected. What is it that moves Jesus to raise this man from the dead? It does not appear to be a response to anyone’s faith within the village. It is not even done at anyone’s request. Instead, it appears to be done purely out of Jesus’ compassion for this mother. At least that’s how it seems at first read. And though Jesus clearly acted out of compassion for her, if we consider the entire context, there might also be a secondary motive.
Jesus, his disciples and a large crowd were all walking together through this village. Since Jesus’ miracles were normally performed in response to people’s faith, it is most likely that faith was a contributing factor to this miracle. The faith that called forth this miracle, however, could only have come from the crowds of people who were walking with Jesus from Capernaum. The day prior, these same crowds witnessed Jesus heal the servant of a centurion. They clearly believed in Jesus. As they walked with Him and encountered this funeral procession, it was not only Jesus’ heart that was moved with compassion, it was also the hearts of His followers. Therefore, as Jesus’ followers witnessed this mother’s sorrow and then witnessed Jesus’ own human sorrow and compassion for her, they would have had hope that He would do something. Their hope would have been supernatural in origin, which means that it was also united with faith. By faith, they knew Jesus would act. Thus, in a very real way, the compassion, hope and faith of the people traveling with Jesus would have called forth His almighty power to heal, and Jesus responded.
There are many ways to act as mediators of God’s grace. One way to do so is by growing in compassion for others and hope in God. When we witness the sufferings of others, allow ourselves to feel compassion for them, manifest hope in the power of God to heal, and then stand there, in faith, waiting for God to act, God will be compelled to act. Our holy compassion, hope and faith act as a prayer to which God always responds. The crowds accompanying Jesus through the Village of Nain appear to have acted in this manner and, inspired by their witness, we, too, must act as intercessors for others in the same way.
Reflect, today, upon anyone in your life who resembles this widow of Nain. Who is it that God wants you to notice and to feel compassion for? As your empathetic heart notices those who need your compassion, open yourself, also, to the supernatural gift of hope. Have divine hope that God will heal them. As you do, allow that hope to manifest faith in God and offer that compassion, hope and faith to God as your prayer for those who are in need.
Most compassionate Lord, You are always attentive to our needs and our sorrows. Your Heart is filled with compassion for all. Please give me a truly empathetic heart so that I will see those in need. As I do, fill me with hope and faith that You will pour forth Your mercy upon them so that I will become an intercessor for all. Jesus, I trust in You.
Conversation with Christ: Lord Jesus, I entrust my entire life and the lives of my loved ones to your care. Allow me to grow in your love so that I truly benefit from your grace, which leads to eternal life. Let me hope in your resurrection as I offer you my everyday burdens.
Today’s Gospel reading has its own value as a factual record of a miracle which Jesus performed. However, intriguingly, Luke may be using it as a parable pointing to another real fact which is not recorded in the Gospels. That Jesus appeared to his Mother Mary after the resurrection and before all his other appearances has been part of Christian tradition from the earliest Church times. It is not recorded in the Gospels, but Christian piety has taken it for granted that Mary, who had given him birth and had stood beside his Cross, would be the first to encounter the risen Christ and receive the good news of the Resurrection.
As far as we know, Mary was a widow; Jesus was her only Son. He was crucified, died and was buried outside the city of Jerusalem. When he rose from the dead, Jesus gave himself back to his Mother. Lord Jesus, give us into Your Mother’s care and protection, so that we may enjoy the fullness of resurrection joy.
In today Gospel, We can see tenderness in the heart of Jesus! He moved with compassion at the sight of the weeping widow whose only son had died, he restored the dead man to life.
Seeing her grief, Jesus first comforted her. Then, touched by her sorrow and need, he manifested both his mercy and his power by raising the young man with a touch of the coffin and a word of command: “Arise!” (Luke 7:14). Jesus showed kindness and compassion to this bereaved woman, even though no one asked him for help. No one even showed any real faith in him. In fact, they may not have even known who he was. Jesus took the initiative all by himself.
The Gospel story may tells us another real fact which is not recorded in the Gospels. That Jesus appeared to his Mother Mary after the resurrection and before all other appearances has been part of Christian tradition from the earliest Church times. It is not recorded in the Gospels, but Christian piety has taken it for granted that Mary, who had given him birth and had stood beside his Cross, would be the first to encounter the risen Christ and receive the good news of the Resurrection.
Let us isolate the elements of this story of the widow’s son: A widow, an only son, dead and being carried to burial outside the city; Jesus raised him from the dead and, significantly, gave him back to his mother.
As far as we know, Mary was a widow; Jesus was her only Son. He was crucified, died and was buried outside the city of Jerusalem. When he rose from the dead, Jesus gave himself back to his Mother.
We can see there is tenderness in the heart of Jesus for each of us. In compassion, he reaches out even before we ask for help, even if we have just a little faith.
If we’re grieving the loss of a loved one, if we’re feeling wounded or despondent, if we’re suffering from a serious illness; whatever trial we are facing, turn to Jesus. He has words of comfort and consolation just for us.
But don’t stop there. Let the compassion that we have received flow out of us. Just as Jesus touched the coffin of that dead young man, you can take just one step toward touching someone else’s life. It doesn’t have to be much. Just a simple gesture, a kind word, or an offer to help. We can help raise people from their own tombs of sadness and fear.
Let’s give thank to Jesus, for His compassion! Thank to Jesus for giving us the hope and helping us to rise again.”
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