" No one can harm the man who does himself no wrong. "

                                               ~~~   ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM  ~~~

 

St. John Chrysostom, bishop & doctor 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊ 

１Ｃorinthians 12:12-14, 27-31a

As the body is one,

Having many members, and all the members, while being many, form one body, so it is with Christ. All of us, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free, have been baptized in one Spirit to form one body and all of us have been given to drink from the one Spirit.

The body has not just one member, but many. Now, you are the body of Christ and each of you individually is a member of it. So God has appointed us in the Church. First apos­tles, second prophets, third teachers. Then come miracles, then the gift of healing, material help, administration in the Church and the gift of ton­gues.

Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Can all perform miracles, or cure the sick, or speak in tongues, or explain what was said in ton­gues? Be that as it may, set your hearts on the most precious gifts, and I will show you a much better way.

 

Ps 100:1b-2, 3, 4, 5

We are his people; the sheep of this flock.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊ 

Luke 7:11-17

A little later Jesus went to a town called Naim and many of his disciples went with him – a great number of people.  As he reached the gate of the town, a dead man was being carried out. He was the only son of his mother and she was a widow; there followed a large crowd of townspeople.

On seeing her, the Lord had pity on her and said, “Don’t cry.”  Then he came up and touched the stretcher and the men who carried it stopped. Jesus then said, “Young man, awake, I tell you.”   And the dead man got up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.  

A holy fear came over them all and they praised God saying, “A great prophet has appeared among us; God has visited his people.” This news spread out in the Jewish country and the surrounding places.

 

 Gospel Reflection：

For You, Mother

Nothing in the gospel narrative suggests that anyone asked Jesus to raise the son of the widow. This is one of the rare occasions wherein Jesus takes the initiative, without being asked by anyone, to heal or raise someone to life.

What moved him to do so? I wonder if the scene provoked in him the future scenario of his own mother at his death: Here is a widow, just like his mother. She has lost the only son-Jesus’ own mother would lose her only son.

I wish to think that Mother Mary was present with Jesus at Naim (or the disciples narrated it to her later) and the scene would be etched in her heart; and when her turn came to be the widow who lost her only son, she would recall the scene and find consolation and hope.

What greater gift can a son leave for his mother than the assurance that she would have him again, alive!