Compassion and Communion - Fr. Micah - October 6, 2024

In today’s Gospel reading, Christ has compassion on the widow of Nain, and he raises her son from the dead. Fr. Micah points out that he doesn’t merely speak to the young man to raise him, but he touches the bier. He uses the intimacy of touch, being God made man in flesh. To us today, he offers the same intimacy and more, saying, "This is my body which is broken for you." The one who touched and raised the widow’s son is the same one who is made present to us in the Divine Liturgy. Fr. Micah also points out that Christ didn’t simply resuscitate the young man, he gave the young man to his mother. This is found in resurrection accounts throughout the Scriptures — Christ gave the young girl to her parents and brought Lazarus to his sisters after he raised them. Life is not mere biology, but life is made meaningful through communion. Christ came to give us life everlasting and communion with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.