Reflection on Sunday Readings - June 9, 2013 (Tenth Sunday of Ordinary Time)
1 Kings 17: 17-24; Ps. 30: 2,4,5-6,11,12,13; Galatians 1: 11-19; Luke 7: 11-17
Proclaiming Mystery Through Grace
Have you ever heard of a town called “Nain”? I believe its pronounced “Nay-een” Up until this weekend, I can honestly say that it was a mystery to me. Turns out it was a Galilean village about six miles southeast of Nazareth, and about 12 miles south of Mt. Tabor. In the Byzantine period it was known as Kome Nais, or the village of Nais, which I believe is pronounced “Nay-ees”. In modern day Israel, it is now known as Nein, which I believe is pronounced “Nay-een”, which begs the point that while some things change, they always remain the same. Have you ever heard of Jesus raising someone from the dead? Of course... Most folks familiar with even a little bit of Scripture would probably recall the raising of Lazarus in John’s Gospel, but do you remember today’s Gospel reading from Luke, and the raising of the widows son? Up until this weekend, if you would have asked me about it, I would have definitely responded with that smile, nodding my head, but wishing I had a Bible, for the only comment I would be able to make would be, < speaking with a tone of un-assuredness > “Of course... That’s the story where Jesus raised the son of that widow... You know the one who lost her husband, and then her son?”
If you’re like me, today’s Gospel might be a tad mysterious, or dare I say, one of those unknown stories of God’s grace coming through yet another the miracle of Jesus Christ. Imagine living back in the days of Christ, six miles southeast of Nazareth, in your little village called Nain. You might have heard about all that had happened with Lazarus in Bethany, which is only about a mile and a half east of Jerusalem; after all, things that happen in big cities do tend to become known throughout the surrounding area. But when Christ arrives to our hometown, bringing the Truth and a miracle with Him, that “big city story” suddenly becomes real, for today, in a fun and poetic kind of twist, it is the story from the relatively unknown little village that seeks to prepare us “big city folk” for our own visit from the Lord, and maybe even our own witnessing of His miraculous love.
Today, we are called to trust an age-old formula of discipleship. This formula is loosely based on a very simple reality. When we see something that impacts us, we can’t help but share it. The people of Bethany witnessed something amazing when they saw the raising of Lazarus from the tomb. They shared every detail they could, and word spread of Jesus’ amazing love. The result was that when Christ came to other areas, he was preceded by “the story”, and the hearts of all who were there to greet Him were prepared for what was about to happen. Sometimes it was just a Parable, while other times, like in today’s Gospel it was a miracle. Either way, the story became real for those in Nain, and hence they shared it, bringing it to us here this morning. Here’s another question... Are our hearts prepared to take this story and make it real right here in our parish? Let’s take a quick look at some of the details that at this point we’ve only heard about.
During the funeral procession of the dead son, Jesus approached the grieving mother and widow and invited her not “to weep” over her loss. He then simply touched the coffin and spoke, “Young man, I tell you, arise!” The dead man got up and began to speak, and “Jesus gave him [back] to his mother.” All who witnessed this amazing moment began to glorify God, and refer to Christ as the “great prophet”, allowing “God to visit His people”! Finally, our Gospel reassures us that the age-old formula went to work again as “this report about [Jesus] spread through the whole of Judea and in all the surrounding region”, which, in case your curious, is today’s West Bank in Israel and Palestine, south of Nain, and about 20 miles south of Jerusalem... Notice how the Gospel and moved from Bethany, just outside of Jerusalem, to Nain six miles south of Nazareth, and then into the region of Judea even further south. The Good News continues its journey throughout the region, and reaches us here today! What was once a mystery is now God’s grace revealed, right here in these pews. Today, Christ reaches into our hearts, prepared in our seeing and hearing these amazing stories of His miraculous love, reassuring us that there is no need for weeping! He looks into our lives, and even those parts that seem to be dead, or stagnate and says, “I tell you, arise!” Our Lord, present in His holy Body and Blood here in our midst, has come to town to change bread and wine into the Eucharist that changes mystery into reality, revealing God’s grace, bringing us everlasting life. And like the dead man, we must arise and begin speaking. Speaking of Him, and the love that sets us free.
Two millenniums later, as we gather for this liturgy, we go through a similar movement, as did the people that day in Nain. We gather with one another seeking healing and new life, and we hear the Word of God proclaimed. Christ then comes to us in the Eucharist, and we are touched by him, one by one in our reception of Holy Communion. Finally, with this new life given to us, we are called to go forth to love and serve God, sharing life with the world and one another! So from Jerusalem to Bethany, from Nain and throughout all of Judea to person next you this day; the challenge remains true. Christ calls us all to arise! We must have eyes that see, and ears that hear, and a heart that opens itself up to the promise of His presence in our cities, towns and families. We must be willing to witness and take the events from “our part of the region”, mysterious or not, and allow them to reveal the grace of God! Like today’s Gospel, when we truly see and hear what the Lord can do, we won’t be able to contain ourselves, giving God praise, as we recognize His Son in our midst, and proclaim to all, the mystery of our faith, made real by the grace of God!
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