Jesus Raises the Widow’s Son at Nain | iPray with the Gospel
“Soon afterward he went to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. As he drew near to the gate of the city, . And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, ‘Do not weep.’ And he came and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, ‘Young man, I say to you, arise.’ And the dead man sat up, and began to speak. And he gave him to his mother.”
Luke 7:11-17
This woman was left alone. Her husband had already died and now her only child, her only hope, had died as well. Jesus came into the city and saw her and “misericordia motus super ea”, says the text in Latin: He was moved with compassion. Compassion comes from the Latin: ‘to suffer-together-with-someone’. The Sacred Heart of Jesus is moved with compassion to suffer together with those who suffer. ‘God is not indifferent, He never looks away from human suffering’ said Pope Francis.
St Paul Le-Bao Tinh was a Vietnamese martyr from the 19th century. He described his experience in prison with these words: “The prison is truly a living example of hell: to chains, shackles and manacles, are added anger, vengeance, lies, obscene conversations, brawls, evil acts, swearing, slander, plus boredom, sadness, mosquitoes and flies…” But then he adds: “In the midst of these torments which usually bend and break others, by the grace of God I am full of joy and happiness, because I am not alone, but Christ is with me. He, my teacher, sustains the whole weight of the cross, burdening me with but a little and ultimate part.”
God is close to those who suffer. And the more one suffers, the closer one gets to Him. He doesn’t allow His children to suffer alone. His passion for His children moves Him to com-passion, to ‘suffer with us’. Jesus approached this woman before she asked for help because He saw her suffering. He was moved with compassion and returned to her the lost son and her lost hope. Holy Mary, Mother of Mercy, place deep in my heart the conviction that God will never allow me to suffer alone, because He will be with me; and you, my Mother, will also be with us.
This article originally appeared on www.ipraywiththegospel.org. Reprinted with permission. Copyright © Fr. George Boronat.
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Rev. George Boronat
Rev. George Boronat M.D. S.T.D is a Catholic priest from the Prelature of Opus Dei, working in the Archdiocese of Southwark in London. He is the Chaplain of The Cedars Independent School in Croydon, and also works as Chaplain of Kelston Club & Study Centre (Balham) and Oakwood Independent School (Purley). He has developed his pastoral ministry mainly with young people and is the author of iPray with the Gospel: Resources to Help Young People Pray.
