Today’s Gospel:  Luke 7:11-17

REFLECTION
In today’s narrative, Jesus encounters death for the first time in Luke's Gospel.  In a number of places the gospel records that Jesus was "moved to the depths of his heart."  Jesus not only grieved the untimely death of a youth, but he showed the depth of his concern for a woman who lost not only a husband, but an only child as well.

I am sure that all of us here can readily testify that we live in a fallen and cursed world. Babies are born addicted to drugs. Helpless children are abused and kidnapped. Natural disasters destroy homes and thousands of lives. Terrorism and war fill the pages of our newspapers every day. Lives are lost to drunk driving and senseless accidents. Couples grieve over miscarriages and infertility. Yes, this world is definitely fallen. The scriptures make clear that God takes no pleasure in the death of anyone (see Ezekiel 33:11); he desires life, not death.

The story of the widow in the Gospel today should help us to look at our own situation and see, first of all, how alive we really are.  Perhaps today we should reflect a little on just how fully we are living our lives. It is not enough just to be physically alive. There are other levels: the emotional, social, intellectual, moral and spiritual levels. At the same time we are surrounded by lots of people who are barely alive in the real sense. Maybe we can do something to lift them up and give them new life or improve the quality of their living.

We have probably all heard the saying of St Irenaeus often quoted: "The glory of God is a person fully alive."  A popular Catholic writer, John Powell, reminds us that most of us only use a tiny fraction of our real potential. We are only partly alive.  Jesus promised to give us life, life in great abundance.  It is there for the asking.

- MA

Today’s Reading:  1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 27-31

PRAYER
Lord, your presence brings life and restores us to wholeness of mind, body, and spirit. Speak your word to us and give us renewed hope, strength and courage to follow you in all things and to eagerly serve others with a glad and generous heart.  This we pray in Jesus' name.  Amen.