Gospel Reflection for 10th Sunday in Ordinary Time

June 5th – The gift of healing and new life

The Gospel of Luke is often called ‘The Women’s Gospel’, and for good reason. There are more encounters with Jesus and women in Luke than in any of the other gospels. Beginning with Mary and Elizabeth, Jesus cured Peter’s mother-in law, he healed the woman who had been suffering with a haemorrhage for twelve years, he spoke tenderly to the woman who reached out to touch the hem of his cloak and he laid in his hands on the crippled woman who was bent over.

This Sunday’s gospel he meets the woman called the widow on Nain. He husband is dead and now her only son has died. This woman has little or no place in society or her community; she is alone. If anyone deserves the compassionate touch of Jesus, it is this poor woman.

The gospel tells us that there are two crowds; the one that arrived with Jesus and the group of mourners with the woman. When the two groups met in the street, there must have been some noise! But Jesus cuts through all this and speaks directly to the deceased boy, not to his mother. With great authority Jesus says, ‘Young man, I tell you to get up.’ When he gets up Jesus gave him back to his mother. Jesus gave the boy back his life and not only gave him back to his mother; Jesus gave the woman back her dignity and place in the community. By word and deed Jesus restores the widow’s life and hope. And as the crowd proclaimed loudly, ‘God has visited his people.’ In and through the voice and action of Jesus, the people have experience the presence of God.

There are times in our own lives when we do and say things that separate us from others and take our life away; we call this sin! But Jesus reaches out to touch us, heal us and bring us back to life. Through prayer and communal liturgies, Jesus speaks directly to each of us calling us by our name. In and through the life of Jesus, we too meet our merciful, compassionate and tender God. Jesus never stops reaching out to us to offer us the gift of healing and new life. What part of your life needs the healing touch of Jesus? When Jesus speaks to you, what is your response?

• Michael Moore OMI