Jesus journeyed to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd accompanied him. As he drew near to the gate of the city, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, he was moved with pity for her and said to her, “Do not weep.” He stepped forward and touched the coffin; at this the bearers halted, and he said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!” The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, exclaiming, “A great prophet has arisen in our midst,” and “God has visited his people.” This report about him spread through the whole of Judea and in all the surrounding region.
Gospel Trivia:
The following trivia will reveal the significance and meaning of this gospel account:
- It mirrors the miracle of Elijah in the first reading of today's Mass; Elijah raised a dead son to life and turned him over to his mother.
- It mentions the place of the miracle -- Nain -- which is not normally done unless the writer has a purpose; in this case the purpose is that Nain is very close to where Elisha performed a similar miracle.
- The Jews believe that the messianic area will be presaged by the dead coming back to life.
- lastly, Jesus is referred to by the crowd as a "great prophet" -- a term reserved only for Elijah and Elisha of the Old Testament.
Thus, Luke is introducing Jesus as the messiah people have been waiting for. Later, Luke will expound that the messianic Jesus is not the liberator from colonial Rome that the Jews were expecting; but a far greater liberator who conquers sin and death.
Reference:
- Nil Guillemette, SJ, A Kingdom for All (Manila: St. Paul Publications, 1988), p. 330-332.
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