The Life Giving Touch of Jesus

6/5/2016

Step #1: Lectio / Read

Luke 7:11-17

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, crying out
“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.

Step #2: Meditatio / Meditate

When the Lord saw her, he was moved with pity for her and said to her, “Do not weep.”

I just got back from my home country, the Philippines from burying my own father. It was an honor and privilege to celebrate the Mass of Christian Burial for him, but it was also a difficult task for me to do. While celebrating the Funeral Mass, I kept conversing with the Lord in short pauses and telling Him, “that’s my own father there lying in the casket and that’s my own mother weeping.”

When Jesus saw the dead son’s mother, he said to her: “Do not weep.” I’m not sure how I would have reacted if somebody told me at my father’s funeral not to weep. I would probably have responded with shock, or thought that the person telling me those words was crazy. But with Jesus, there is no time for this reaction. As proclaimed in the Gospel, He stepped forward right away to touch the coffin and commanded the dead young man to rise. The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.

Jesus could not stand seeing the mother weep, and so he consoled her. Moreover, Jesus could not stand seeing dead sons and daughters. Seeing these two scenes combined, it is no wonder that he stepped forward right away; Jesus needed to do something about this sad situation.

The church is the mother. She weeps for us, her children, day and night because we are dead in sin. You and I are the dead son that needs the touch of Jesus so we can rise up and immediately begin to speak in witness to the marvelous work of God. Jesus cannot stand seeing the mother church, his bride, weeping and so He steps forward and touches us with His word, with His sacraments, and with his Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity. Jesus touches us with his outstretched arms in baptism so that, as we have died, we may also share His life; He stretches His arm to absolve our sins and heal us with the Holy Unction.

You and I were dead, now we are alive.

You have been touched by Jesus; arise, speak, and be a witness to the life-giving touch of Jesus. Share to your friends and family how Jesus touched you and gave you to your mother to be a great witness. Share the ministry of our weeping mother: weep and atone for our dead brothers and sisters. Jesus cannot stand seeing you weeping in atonement, therefore he will do the same life-giving miracle. Before, you were the dead son; now join the mother as she gives birth to more future saints for God.

Step #3: Oratio / Pray

"The dead man sat up and began to speak,
and Jesus gave him to his mother."

Jesus, what does it feel to be touched by you?

Jesus, how do you want me witness to your life-giving touch?

Jesus, how can I help my mother Church in her weeping?

Step #4: Contemplatio / Contemplate

Jesus, step forward and touch any dead part in me.

Jesus, come and visit your people.

For the Rest of Your Day...

Listen to your own breathing and know that every breath you take is God entering and touching every part of you in order that you may have life.

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Today's prayer was prepared by Fr. Ervin Pio M Caliente.

CARPE VERBUM