Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year C
June 5, 2016
Gospel: Lk 7:11-17
Jesus 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, crying out “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.
(http://www.usccb.org)
The difficult words
(*) A coffin is a container for carrying and
burying the body of someone who has died.
This week’s spotlight
Green
This Sunday, the color of the Priest's vestments
changes. After the joyful white of the Easter season, it is now green. This is
the color of “Ordinary Time” when there is no special feast. Green symbolizes
all that God blesses us with day after day. It is the color of life and the
color of hope.
Funerals
Death is always sad, but Catholic funerals are filled
with beauty and meaning. The body is brought to the church, where the Priest
sprinkles it with holy water and covers it with a white cloth just as at the
person’s baptism. As Mass continues, the readings remind us of God's victory
over death, and the Eucharist recalls Jesus' promise that "whoever eats my
flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last
day” (John 6:54). Special prayers thank God for the person's life, and beg
forgiveness for his/her sins. The Priest incenses the body as a sign of the
soul going up to heaven with our prayers. The body is then taken to the
cemetery, where it is buried, as Jesus was, in hope of the resurrection. In the
Year of Mercy, it is important to note that burying the dead is one of the
corporal works of mercy.
Reflection
Love is stronger than death
Notice how kind Jesus is! He sees a funeral coming out
of the town, a funeral for the only son of a woman whose husband had also died.
He knew that this mother would now feel totally alone in the world, and his
heart was moved with love for her. Perhaps the scene made Jesus think about his
own mother, Mary, and how sad she would be when he would die on the cross.
Jesus doesn’t stop at just feeling sorry for this woman - he takes action to
help her! He raises her son from the dead and gives him back to her! Jesus
showed her and us that we are never alone, and that his love is stronger even
than death! In heaven, Jesus will give us back all of our loved ones who have
died. He will destroy death for ever. In the meantime, you can reach out to
those who are suffering. Like Jesus, you can show people that they are not
alone.
Discussion questions
1.How did Jesus feel when he saw the woman who was sad?
2.What happened after he saw her crying?
3.Why did he bring her son back to life?
4.What did other people say after he did this?
5.What are some ways we show God’s love to people who are sad?
After
receiving Holy Communion,
you can say this prayer silently to yourself. If you
have not yet
received your First Communion, you can still say this prayer because of your desire to
receive Jesus.
Father, through Jesus, in
communion with the whole Church, I thank you for coming into my heart. Through
this Communion, make my heart more like the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Fill me with his tenderness, so that I
can bring joy to those in sorrow.
This week…
Comfort the sorrowful
This week, stay alert to notice
anyone who seems to be having a bad day. Try to bring them joy by showing them
kindness and love. Say a Hail Mary for them before you go to bed.
Rejoice in the Lord always
Many things can lead us to
sadness, anger, or discouragement. It is good to notice such things, but not to
let them bring us down.This week, practice keeping an attitude of joy and hope,
especially when things seem difficult.
Crossword Puzzle
