A great prophet has arisen in our midst

9 JUNE (Lk 7,11-17)

Today, Jesus is recognized as a truly great prophet because on the model and example of Elijah and Elisha raises the son of a widow. Throughout the centuries-old history of Israel, no other prophet has ever raised a single person.

The day came when the child was old enough to go out to his father among the reapers. “My head hurts!” he complained to his father. “Carry him to his mother,” the father said to a servant. The servant picked him up and carried him to his mother; he stayed with her until noon, when he died in her lap. The mother took him upstairs and laid him on the bed of the man of God. Closing the door on him, she went out and called to her husband, “Let me have a servant and a donkey. I must go quickly to the man of God, and I will be back.” “Why are you going to him today?” he asked. “It is neither the new moon nor the sabbath.” But she bade him good-bye, and when the donkey was saddled, said to her servant: “Lead on! Do not stop my donkey unless I tell you to.” She kept going till she reached the man of God on Mount Carmel. When he spied her at a distance, the man of God said to his servant Gehazi: “There is the Shunammite! Hurry to meet her, and ask if all is well with her, with her husband, and with the boy.” “Greetings,” she replied. But when she reached the man of God on the mountain, she clasped his feet. Gehazi came near to push her away, but the man of God said: “Let her alone, she is in bitter anguish; the Lord hid it from me and did not let me know.” “Did I ask my lord for a son?” she cried out. “Did I not beg you not to deceive me?”

“Gird your loins,” Elisha said to Gehazi, “take my staff with you and be off; if you meet anyone, do not greet him, and if anyone greets you, do not answer. Lay my staff upon the boy.” But the boy’s mother cried out: “As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not release you.” So he started to go back with her. Meanwhile, Gehazi had gone on ahead and had laid the staff upon the boy, but there was no sound or sign of life. He returned to meet Elisha and informed him that the boy had not awakened. When Elisha reached the house, he found the boy lying dead. He went in, closed the door on them both, and prayed to the Lord. Then he lay upon the child on the bed, placing his mouth upon the child’s mouth, his eyes upon the eyes, and his hands upon the hands. As Elisha stretched himself over the child, the body became warm. He arose, paced up and down the room, and then once more lay down upon the boy, who now sneezed seven times and opened his eyes. Elisha summoned Gehazi and said, “Call the Shunammite.” She came at his call, and Elisha said to her, “Take your son.” She came in and fell at his feet in gratitude; then she took her son and left the room (Cf. 2Re 4,8-37).

God alone is the Lord of life. The man of God partakes of this divine quality. This truth is beautifully revealed in the Book of Wisdom. Man is only giver of death.
For you have dominion over life and death; you lead down to the gates of the nether world, and lead back. Man, however, slays in his malice, but when the spirit has come away, it does not return, nor can he bring back the soul once it is confined (Wis 16,13-14).

Jesus Christ today is recognized as a true prophet of the living God, greater than Elijah and Elisha. They had to “work hard” to revive two children.

Soon afterward he journeyed to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd accompanied him. As he drew near to the gate of the city, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, he was moved with pity for her and said to her, “Do not weep.” He stepped forward and touched the coffin; at this the bearers halted, and he said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!” The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, exclaiming, “A great prophet has arisen in our midst,” and “God has visited his people.” This report about him spread through the whole of Judea and in all the surrounding region.

Jesus raises a young boy with a single order. The lightness, ease, the absence of fatigue attest to his great union with God. The more we are united to God, and the more one is light in doing things concerning him. When doing things concerning him becomes heavy, it means that you do not live in a strong, intense communion with God. You are not immersed in him as the iron becomes fire in the fire. Not only does Jesus live of a very intense communion of obedential love with the Father, He is God Himself, the Son of God. His is a creative word as that of the Father.

Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redemption, Angels and Saints give us true faith in Jesus.