Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Very close friends of mine asked for my prayers for a grieving family, last week. Twenty-nine year old Marjorie had died suddenly. Marjorie was not ill. Her death was sudden and shocking to all, especially to her husband Patrick and three young children, Payton, Hailey and Mariah. The oldest child is only eleven and the youngest is four. I cannot imagine the sadness of the husband and three young children. When tragedy strikes, our instinctive question is, “Why?” As people of faith, we may even ask, “O God, Why?” I have celebrated countless funeral masses with this very question in mind. Even as a people who believe that Jesus died and rose again, as believers in eternal life - the pain of any tragedy is real and paralyzing.
As I reflected on today’s readings, I wished that with God’s help, I could reverse every untimely death. I wish I could restore Marjorie to her husband and children. In reality, I am left helpless. I do not have many answers to the “Whys” of life. However, I tried to reflect and pray about it. The rest of my homily is the fruit of this prayer.
1. Christ our Comfort. In tragic moments, as a people of faith we draw close to Christ. And we do this for many reasons. The first reason is that we think of Jesus as the compassionate presence of God. Today’s gospel tells us that Jesus was “moved with pity.” In fact, this healing is one of those rare instances where Jesus is not asked for a miracle, but rather, of his own initiative he stepped up, touched the coffin and raised the young man to life. Jesus’ action is symbolic of Christ’s solidarity with every person who encounters tragedy. In numerous instances, Jesus brought comfort to hurting people. But, there is yet another reason why we draw close to Christ. We remember that Jesus himself died a tragic and untimely death. While Jesus came to aid of the mother of the dead young man, his own mother grieved as she saw her son die on the cross. Similar to today’s story, Jesus too was the only son of his mother. In all probability, Mary was herself a widow. In other words, in times of tragedy we find solace in Christ who understands the plight of the broken-hearted. He indeed is our comfort. This is why the author of the letter to the Hebrews says, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin. So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.” (Heb 4:15-16).
2. Christ our Life. The two stories in today’s readings are about widows who lost their only sons. These two stories of the resurrection of the dead are told in a way that they capture God’s plan for all of humanity. Just as Elijah and Jesus have compassion on the widows, God has compassion on us. Where as Elijah raised the young man to life Jesus went beyond. Jesus became death so that we can share in divine life. Jesus transformed death from within. That is the story of the cross, death, and resurrection of Jesus. By his death and resurrection, Christ has snatched us from death and restored us to life. Not just a few selected people, but all of humanity is invited to resurrection. This is the significance of our own baptism. In baptism we die with Christ so that we might also rise in him. So yes, Marjorie’s story is very tragic. Yet, in the midst of tragedy, Christ makes it possible to face the tragedy with hope. Death, forever and once-and-for-all, is destroyed. Human tragedy has been transformed into divine hope.
3. Christ our Inspiration. Both in the Old and New Testaments, widows were among the most helpless people in society. Oppressing widows was considered a serious sin and coming to their aid was a great virtue. We admire Elijah and Jesus because they stepped up in light of human tragedy. They did not withdraw or simply pass the hurting people by. Tragic situations are hard for me because I find myself helpless. I am sure you have been in situation when it is hard to say the right thing or to do meaningful things for people who are hurting. Yet, Elijah and Jesus teach us the importance of stepping up. We may not be able to raise people from the dead, but we can never underestimate the power of presence. People may not remember what we said or what we did when they were hurting, but they will never forget that we were there. Especially, in this jubilee of mercy, as we contemplate the spiritual works of mercy, such as, visiting the sick and burying the dead, our most compassionate act can be our “presence.” In this way, we act like Elijah and Jesus.
This Eucharist is a foreshadow of the the comfort and hope, the life and love that awaits us. Let us participate in it in faith so that we can be part of it in eternity.
- Fr. Satish Joseph