Often in the Gospel Jesus performed miracles (signs) as a response to people’s faith. Jesus saw the faith of the men carrying the paralytic and said to him: “Son your sins are forgiven”, (cf. Mark 2: 5). To the woman who had been sick for 12 years Jesus said: “Daughter, your faith has healed you, go in peace and be free from your sickness” (cf. Mark 5: 34).” But in today’s Gospel, the action of Jesus in favor of a widow and her only son doesn’t seem to have been prompted by faith, neither from the woman herself, nor from those accompanying her. So, what could be the meaning of Jesus’s action and what does it tell us about our relationship with God especially when we find ourselves in desperate situations?
God Sees Human Misery
As we meditate, let us remember that right from the beginning of the faith experience of the Israelites with God, we discover His proximity with his people. In Exodus 3, 7-10 God said to Moses: “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out of their slave drivers, I know their sufferings and I have come down to deliver them”. Coming back to the Gospel, we see Jesus journeying to the small city of Nain accompanied by his disciples and a large crowd. As he drew near to the gate of the city, he encountered this widow whose only son had died and was being carried out.
Jesus is the Gate That Leads to Life
Jesus met with the widow and her dead son near the gate of the city. Maybe St Mark put this precision to underline the fact that Jesus is the gate that leads to life. Also, the gaze of Jesus is highlighted. “When the Lord saw her, he was moved with pity for her…” Jesus’ regard goes beyond the physical realm; he not only saw the physical pains of this widow but also her spiritual and emotional agony. He goes beyond seeing and allowed himself to be moved. This shows clearly that God cannot remain indifferent to the sufferings of his creatures. It is very important to note that before moving into action, Jesus addresses a word of encouragement to the widow: “Do not weep” (anymore). Jesus stepped forward… in other words, he comes closer to the coffin and touches it and the bearers halted.
A Life-changing Encounter
St Luke, by providing these details, helps us understand more the attitude of Jesus towards human sufferings. He sees our sufferings, our agonies, our fears, anxieties, brokenness, etc. He is always moved with pity for us. To (re)-discover how close God is to our human sufferings today is a big challenge of faith. Let’s remember here that neither did the widow nor the large crowd accompanying her request anything from Jesus. All that was needed was the encounter with Jesus. We can encounter Jesus today in various ways, especially through the Holy Eucharist. He comes closer to us and touches us in a special way. He gives us life!
To the young dead man Jesus says: “Young Man, I tell you, arise!” The dead man heard the word of Jesus, sat up, began to speak and Jesus gave him back to his mother. We can contemplate here the joy of this woman but also the power in the word of God. No wonder why Jesus said that if we remain in him and his word remains in us, whatever we ask shall be given to us, (Cf. John 15:7).
Understanding and believing today that God sees the sufferings of humanity and has come closer to save us through His Son Jesus Christ is the key message for us. Every encounter with Jesus is life-giving and transforming. Therefore, for us to personally experience the saving power of Jesus, it is necessary to believe in his word.
