; 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, I say to you, wake up!” And the dead
man sat 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 throughout Judea and the surrounding places.
Reflect:
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!
© Copyright Bible Diary 2022