Tuesday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Year Two
1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 27-31a
Psalm 10:1b-2, 3, 4, 5
Luke 7:11-17
Jesus is the Lord of life. His miracle today recalls those of Elijah and Elisha: Elijah raised the only son of the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:17-24) and Elisha raised the only son of the Shunammite woman (2 Kings 4:31-17).
During his ministry, Jesus restored the dead to life three times. On the Sea of Galilee, he raised the daughter of Jairus (Matthew 9:18-26; Mark 5:22-43); In Nain, he raised, the widow’s son; and in Bethany he restored his friend Lazarus, the brother of Martha and Mary, to life (John 11:11-44). He was moved to act by Jairus’ faith and was moved to pity by the widow’s tears; again, he was moved to act by Martha’s faith and moved in the spirit by Mary’s tears.
Saint Ambrose compares the widow’s tears to those of the Church, who weeps for her sons and daughters who are dead because of their sin. The Church does not abandon her children, but rather intercedes for them and this moves Jesus’ heart. Just as he told Jairus not to fear (Mark 5:36), Jesus tells the widow not to weep. Her only son will live.
Through his works, signs and miracles, Jesus manifests that the Kingdom of God is present in him. These mighty deeds attest that he is the promised Messiah, that the Father has sent him. They also invite belief in him and strengthen faith in him. «By freeing some individuals from the earthly evils of hunger, injustice, illness, and death, Jesus performed messianic signs. Nevertheless he did not come to abolish all evils here below, but to free men from the gravest slavery, sin, which thwarts them in their vocation as God’s sons and causes all forms of human bondage» (CCC, 549).
Paul teaches us that the Church is one body, the Body of Christ. Like the members of the human body, we, as members of the Church, work together and bring different talents and gifts to the table. The unity of the Church is not uniformity, but harmony. Some members of the Church are like the Apostles, who stay close to Christ and are sent out. Others are like the prophets, who communicate God’s word to the people. Others are teachers who have the ability to instruct others in the faith.
There are also those who have charismatic gifts of healing, speaking in tongues and interpreting what is said. At the same time, Paul encourages all Christians to strive for and desire the higher, spiritual gifts of faith, hope and love. Jesus, we saw, was moved to work mighty deeds for his people by faith and love. He is moved to heal us when we turn to him in faith, when we place our hope in him, and when we love him above all things.
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Readers may contact Fr Jason Mitchell at mitchelljason2011@gmail.com.
