Reflections from the June 5 Gospel
Luke 7:11-17
A survey of the Gospels reveals many ways in which Jesus upheld the dignity of women. In a culture where women were considered second-class citizens, Jesus was never afraid to encounter women, to affirm them, and to welcome them among his followers. Here we see that his heart was stirred by the situation of this grieving mother. The man who had died was “the only son of his mother, and she was a widow.” In this culture, a woman was protected by her father, her husband, or her son. Absent one of those men in her life, she was in an incredibly vulnerable position. This, along with the grief of losing her child, struck the Lord with pity. And then, he did the impossible and restored the dead man to life. After “the dead man sat up … Jesus gave him to his mother.” Jesus made a point to restore and affirm this woman’s vocation as a mother. Christ himself reveals, through his ministry to this mother, that her role is vital. May we also find ways to affirm and serve the mothers in our midst.
Questions of the Week
Luke 7:11-17:
Luke tells us that “fear seized” the
people who saw Jesus raise the widow’s
son from the dead. What do you think they were afraid of?
1 Kings 17:17-24:
On what grounds does Elijah question God?
Galatians 1:11-19:
What do you imagine Paul and Peter (Cephas) talked about during their fifteen days together in Jerusalem?