1OTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C

1ST KINGS 17:17-24, PSALM 30:2, 4, 5–6, 11, 12, 13 (2a) GALATIANS 1:11-19, LUKE 7:11-17
1OTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C

My dear friends, today marks the 10th Sunday in ordinary time year C, and our readings as it is customary for us Catholics, holds for us important lessons for us to learn and imbibe. Before we go into our reflection today, let us examine the background to our readings.
The First reading and the gospel story are about the restoration of life. The first reading from the first Book of the Kings tells the story of a woman’s dead son being restored to life. A Baal woman having realized that Elijah was a man of God feels her own unworthiness in his presence and felt her son’s death was a punishment. “Have you come to uncover my past sins and cause my son’s death? However, at the end of the reading, the woman confesses Yahweh’s power and Elijah’s authority. “Now I am certain that you are a man of God and that the word of the lord from your mouth is truth”. Let us pray therefore that may all those who come to us seeking God be never disappointed. Amen. There is a point of convergence between the first reading and the second reading. In that, Jesus in the gospel reading also raised the child of a widow. But do we know that, that is against the law for Jews? Numbers 19: 11- 16 tells us that; “whoever touches a corpse is ritually unclean for seven days… he defiles the lords tent and will no longer be considered one of God’s people”. Jesus’ compassion bypasses every law of ritual purity which dictates that one should not touch a corpse. This therefore attests to the fact that Jesus liberates those who are in the power of death. He breaks barriers for our sake. But the question is do we have faith to hold on to this? St. Paul in the second reading also talks about the essential character of the gospel. The origin is from God. Just like Elijah received his own origin and authenticity from God as seen in the first reading.
Elijah and Jesus Christ had something in common. Their response to the situations of the widows in the first and gospel reading, communicates care, concern, and compassion. Widows are people who have lost their husbands. Combined with the death of their son, lets imagine what trouble they will be in. Imagine their pains and grief.  If it was in some cultures, such people would be referred to as outcasts. However, we see the compassion Jesus and Elijah had on the women. The question we should ask ourselves is; how do we respond to the misfortune of others, are we compassionate or concerned about our brothers and sisters in the community we live?
 First and foremost, let us recall that Elijah was sent to Ahab and Jezebel to stop worshipping bal, and this woman was a baalist as the Jerome biblical commentary tells us. Jesus too in the gospel reading, had crowds following him, before he met the crowd who was already on a funeral procession. He was moved by the grief, wailing and weeping of the widow. What challenge does this hold for us as Christians? We as Christians too, often encounter people with difficulties, what is our attitude towards it? As a community of God’s people, when our brother or sisters are afflicted with a particular problem, are we the type that will say “God don catch am” or the types that will simply ignore, “E no concern me”. Concern for the community’s good as well as individual’s Good is very paramount. Compassion for one another is very important following the example of the man of God, as well as Jesus Christ in the gospel. When our sisters or brothers fall sick what is our duty? How about concern for our pastors? We should recall that; the generosity of the widow who accommodated Elijah, a man of God, won for her, God’s compassion. What do you think you have done that will win you God’s compassion? We should also bear in mind that God goes out of his way to satisfy and please us in every way. Touching of corpses was not allowed for Jews, but because of the compassion Jesus felt, he did that, and he’s still ready to that for us. Let me quickly ask you a question; is there anything that you feel is beyond redemption? Or anything that you consider impossible? Draw strength from our readings today and know that God will surprise you.
God continues to manifest his power among us even today. If only we are open enough to see it. A power that St.paul in the second reading attested to. Through the sacraments, particularly those two sacraments that we can receive most frequently: Eucharist and Reconciliation or Penance. As well, through the actual graces he grants you daily: You recognize some of them easily, others you hardly notice, but God’s power is made present through them. God manifests his power in you, but so that the step is made from manifestation to fulfillment, your free acceptance and generous response to the divine power is needed.
Dearly beloved, today also affords us the opportunity to meditate on death. Death cannot be fooled, no one can evade death. It is not as if God takes pleasure in watching us die, in fact, Ezekiel 33: 11 says; “tell them that as surely as I am the sovereign lord, am the living God, I do not enjoying seeing sinners die. I would rather see them stop sinning and live. Israel stop the evil you are doing. Do you want to die?”  Irrespective of how we view death, yet, it remains a gateway which we must pass in order to be reunited with God who is our first beginning and final end. Those, whom we read about in our readings today, were resuscitated. But death affords us the opportunity to be resurrected to immortality only when we stop evil.
Today dearly beloved, I am not here to offer you compassion, healing, resurrection or reconciliation. Most of those things are outside of my abilities and power. I am merely a mouthpiece. What I offer you is Jesus. The same Jesus as you’ve seen and heard and met outside the little village of Nain.
Invite Jesus to your life and home. He will come. Share with him your deepest hurts. His compassionate heart will reach out to you. Give him your broken relationships and experience his loving reconciliation. He will amaze you today as he amazed them long ago. May God bless his words in our hearts. Amen!