The necessary resurrection

 The story of the raising of the deceased son of the widow of Nain is one of the most touching stories in the gospel. Jesus’ gestures in this scene are those of compassion. The Lord saw the grieving mother, He felt sorry for her, and He approached the bier of the dead man and put His hand on it. Jesus defies the convention of not approaching the dead because He wants to be with the grieving mother. He felt sorry for her. We don't often think of Jesus feeling sorry for us. We tend to think of our failure to feel sorry for Him and His sufferings.

Many commentators see this scene as a dramatisation of Jesus in relation to the Church and her children who are dead through mortal sin. The Church is the widow who weeps over those who have received the life of grace but lost it. The child lies dead upon the bier, unreachable by human means. There are those who say that the only thing necessary to approach the Eucharist is faith. But that is a bit like saying that the only thing this cadaver needs to perk him up is a good square meal! Before he ever eats again, this son needs the merciful intervention of his creator to restore him to life. He does not now require nourishment; he needs resurrection.

              And in the wake of the resurrection of the son of the widow of Nain, we can taste again the raw joy and awe of people who are blessed enough to witness directly the mercy of God. A great prophet has appeared. This is a prophet who knows how not to hide or deny the dire condition of humanity, but rather to face it down, to raise his hand in blessing, and to restore to life those most in need of his mercy.