Daily Catholic Lectio
Tue, 17 Sep 2024
XXIV Week in Ordinary Time, Tuesday
1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 27-31. Luke 7:11-17
Do not weep!
In the gospel reading, Jesus resuscitates the young man, the only son of the widow at Nain. The miracle is unique insofar as it is initiated by Jesus himself (more or less the same as the multiplication of loaves).
Luke presents the narrative with this literary style: there are two processions in the narrative. One procession goes from the city to the outskirts; that is the funeral procession carrying the dead young man. Another procession comes from the outskirts towards the city; that is the procession of Jesus and the accompanying folk.
The widow in the narrative is deprived of her only hope in life. When she thought everything was an end, Jesus came there to tell her that with God everything is but a bend. There is always a new beginning.
There are two imperatives in the story: one is addressed to the mother – ‘do not weep,’ and the other is addressed to the dead young man – ‘rise!’ One is in the negative, the other is in the affirmative.
The people acclaim Jesus as one of the prophets, such as Elijah and Elisha.
It is necessary that we stop our journeys for a while. It is better that we stop our journey, stop our tears, and stop our funeral procession.
Jesus exhorts us not to weep. He gives us strength to take care of the young ones.
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The ‘pilgrims of hope’ realize the presence of God in every moment of their lives. (Jubilee 2025 AD, bite 201)
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
Missionary of Mercy
Yesu Karunanidhi 
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