FIRST READING
“Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.”
A reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 12:12-14.27-31a)
Brethren: Just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptised into one body — Jews or Greeks, slaves or free — and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the Church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, then healers, helpers, administrators, speakers in various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 1tJ0: 1-2.3.4.5 (R. 3c)
R/. We are his people, the sheep of his flock
Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing for joy. R/.
Know that he, the Lord, is God.
He made us; we belong to him.
We are his people, the sheep of his flock. R/.
R/. We are his people, the sheep of his flock
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with songs of praise.
Give thanks to him, and bless his name. R/.
Indeed, how good is the Lord,
eternal his merciful love.
He is faithful from age to age. R/.
ALLELUIA Luke 7:16
Alleluia. A great prophet has arisen among us, and God has visited his people. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“Young man, I say to you, arise.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 7:11- 17)
At that time: Jesus 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, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a large crowd from the city was with her. 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. Fear seized them all; and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people! ” And this report concerning him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.
The Gospel of the Lord.
TODAY’S REFLECTION
Jesus feels compassion for the widow whose only son had just died. The word ‘compassion’ means to suffer with. Jesus feels her pain, shares in her brokenness, fear and anguish. He weeps with her. But his compassion does not remain just at the feeling level or shedding a few tears for the dead man. He does something about it. He raises the dead man back to life. He restores life and alleviates the pain and sadness of the widow. In him we have a compassionate and merciful savior. When our compassion is coupled with action, we participate in the great mission of Jesus.