First reading 1 Timothy 3:1-13
The president must be of impeccable character
Here is a saying that you can rely on: To want to be a presiding elder is to want to do a noble work. That is why the president must have an impeccable character. He must not have been married more than once, and he must be temperate, discreet and courteous, hospitable and a good teacher; not a heavy drinker, nor hot-tempered, but kind and peaceable. He must not be a lover of money. He must be a man who manages his own family well and brings his children up to obey him and be well-behaved: how can any man who does not understand how to manage his own family have responsibility for the church of God? He should not be a new convert, in case pride might turn his head and then he might be condemned as the devil was condemned. It is also necessary that people outside the Church should speak well of him, so that he never gets a bad reputation and falls into the devil’s trap.
In the same way, deacons must be respectable men whose word can be trusted, moderate in the amount of wine they drink and with no squalid greed for money. They must be conscientious believers in the mystery of the faith. They are to be examined first, and only admitted to serve as deacons if there is nothing against them. In the same way, the women must be respectable, not gossips but sober and quite reliable. Deacons must not have been married more than once, and must be men who manage their children and families well. Those of them who carry out their duties well as deacons will earn a high standing for themselves and be rewarded with great assurance in their work for the faith in Christ Jesus.
Responsorial Psalm 100(101):1-3,5,6
I will walk with blameless heart.
My song is of mercy and justice;
I sing to you, O Lord.
I will walk in the way of perfection.
O when, Lord, will you come?
I will walk with blameless heart
within my house;
I will not set before my eyes
whatever is base.
The man who slanders his neighbour in secret
I will bring to silence.
The man of proud looks and haughty heart
I will never endure.
I look to the faithful in the land
that they may dwell with me.
He who walks in the way of perfection
shall be my friend.
Gospel Luke 7:11-17
The only son of his mother, and she a widow
Jesus went to a town called Nain, accompanied by his disciples and a great number of people. When he was near the gate of the town it happened that a dead man was being carried out for burial, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a considerable number of the townspeople were with her. When the Lord saw her he felt sorry for her. ‘Do not cry’ he said. Then he went up and put his hand on the bier and the bearers stood still, and he said, ‘Young man, I tell you to get up.’ And the dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Everyone was filled with awe and praised God saying, ‘A great prophet has appeared among us; God has visited his people.’ And this opinion of him spread throughout Judaea and all over the countryside.
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Don’t cry
“When the Lord saw her he felt sorry for her and said to her, ‘Don’t cry.'”. In today’s gospel., Jesus entered a town called Nain and saw a woman crying as her dead son was carried out to be buried. He looked at the woman with compassion and told her, “Don’t cry”. Jesus looks at us when we suffer from loneliness, grief, disappointment, etc. He is not indifferent to our pain, but offers us His comforting presence. He tells us, “Don’t cry…Don’t be afraid… Don’t give up.” He knows and feels our pain. This is the tenderness of Jesus, our God who is always with us.
Let us turn to Jesus for comfort and peace whenever we face situations that overwhelm us or when tragedies strike us. Our problems might not go away, and our loved ones who died will not come back to life, but we cling to Jesus, the source of solace. Only He can give us joy where there should be sadness and peace where there should be anguish.
Reflective question:
Have I experienced Jesus’ comforting presence in times of sadness and loss?
Have I experienced Jesus’ comforting presence in times of sadness and loss?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Sandra Seow FMVD.
