a matter of life and death
Jesus "stepped forward and touched the litter." —Luke 7:14
According to the law of Moses, Jesus became unclean by touching the dead man (Nm 19:11). Jesus, the Life (Jn 11:25; 14:6), gave to the young man new and abundant life (Jn 10:10). In so doing, Jesus took upon Himself the uncleanness of death (Mt 8:17). However, death has no power over Jesus (Rm 6:9).
Jesus raised the young man by His spoken word. Once Jesus spoke the words, "Young man, I bid you get up," the "dead man sat up" (Lk 7:14, 15). His word is life (Jn 6:63). When Jesus speaks the word, healing and life ensue (Lk 7:7, 10, 14-15).
By sheer mercy, Jesus defeated a situation dominated by death. No one asked Him to intervene, and no faith seemed to be involved. Jesus is Mercy incarnate. Mercy is His very nature, and so Jesus had mercy on the bereaved mother and raised her son from death to life. This foreshadowed His saving death on the cross. No one asked God to send His Son to die for us, and no one even imagined such a thing. He simply looked upon us with mercy and brought life and light into our gloomy existence (Is 9:1).
Once we were dead because of our sins (Eph 2:1). However, "God is rich in mercy; because of His great love for us He brought us to life with Christ when we were dead in sin" (Eph 2:4-5). Alleluia!
Prayer: Jesus, "You have the words of eternal life" (Jn 6:68). Touch this culture of death and make it stop (Lk 7:14). Speak Your words of life to us and usher in a new civilization of life.
Promise: "God has visited His people." —Lk 7:16
Praise: St. Cyprian was told in a vision that he would be beheaded in a year, so he listened to the Holy Spirit and wrote an exhortation to those who would be called to suffer martyrdom.
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
(For a related teaching, order our tape Forgiveness on audio AV 54-1 or video V-54.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 19, 2014
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