Today’s gospel is taken from Luke 7:11-16, the 3rd Sunday of Luke and concerns the Raising of a Widow’s Son by Jesus in the town of Nain. The Gospel teaches us that the resurrection power of Jesus was already at work in His earthly ministry.

From the story we know that those who witnessed the raising of the widow’s son by Jesus exclaimed, “A great prophet has appeared among us!”. “God has come to save His people”. This is the normal response by men and women who had grown up by the traditions and teachings of the Bible. We recall that some of the prophets did miracles, such as Elijah, Elisha and later through Moses, by means of signs and wonders.

So as the times of fulfillment, in the person of Christ, the new Moses, were times of miracles. In the ministry of Jesus, His death, and Resurrection and the birth of the Church, we have a new Exodus, a new covenant and a new people who are led by Jesus to the Kingdom of God, our spiritual promised land.

In the person and ministry of Jesus the Kingdom of God breaks into the fabric of human life with power, shown by miracles, and healing.

Thus many of Jesus’ contemporaries responded to His miraculous actions with awe, amazement and thanksgiving to God for the new time of deliverance from the powers of Satan, death and sin.

In conclusion it is important to remember that miracles and healings, like that of the son of the widowed women of Nain, are witness to the redeeming presence and compassionate love of God. Let us be thankful for God’s presence and saving power in our lives.