FIRST READING
A reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to Timothy (1Timothy3:1-13)
A bishop must be above reproach; deacons likewise must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.
Beloved: The saying is sure: If any one aspires to the office of bishop, he desires a noble task. Now a bishop must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, dignified, hospitable, an apt teacher, no drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and no lover of money. He must manage his own household well, keeping his children submissive and respectful in every way; for if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how can he care for God’s Church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may be puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil; moreover he must be well thought of by outsiders, or he may fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. Deacons likewise must be serious, not double—tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for gain; they must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And let them also be tested first; then if they prove themselves blameless let them serve as deacons. The women likewise must be serious, no slanderers, but temperate, faithful in all things. Let deacons be the husband of one wife, and let them manage their children and their households well; for those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm101:1-2ab.2cd-3ab.5.6 (R. 2c)
R. I will walk with blameless heart.
I sing of merciful love and justice;
I raise a psalm to you, O Lord.
I will ponder the way of the blameless.
O when will you come to me? R.
I will walk with blameless heart within my house;
I will not set before my eyes whatever is base. R.
Whoever slanders a neighbour in secret
I will bring to silence.
Proud eyes and haughty heart I will never endure. R.
My eyes are on the faithful of the land,
that they may dwell with me.
The one who walks in the way of the blameless
shall be my servant. R.
ALLELUIA Luke 7:16
Alleluia. A great prophet has arisen among us, and God has visited his people. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 7:11- l7)
“Young man, I say to you, arise.”
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
The gospel of today shows Jesus compassion towards the poor and the less privileged. The plight of a widow in Jesus’ days was miserable. And in this case her condition is all the more pitiable as she lost her only son. Jesus very well understood her situation and brought her dead son back to life. “And he gave him to his mother.” The main focus of this miracle is not the man who died and came back to life, but the widow whose miserable plight has been reversed by the compassionate action of the Lord. The Lord understands our plight and comes to our aid in all circumstances of life.