At the Gates

We’ve been focused on the violence in Syria.

The tens of thousands being killed in civil war.

What can we do about it?

Do we have the power or ability for a successful intervention?

Should we intervene at all?

Meanwhile, the chemical warfare and other atrocities mount.

Last week opposition forces, led by radical Islamists, took over the town of Maaloula.

An ancient Christian town where some still speak Aramaic, the language Jesus spoke.

Radicals reportedly threatened to behead any Christian who refused to convert to Islam.

Less than a hundred miles from Maaloula, near Nazareth, lies the ancient town of Nain.

Now a small Arab village.

Two thousand years ago Jesus stood near the gate of Nain.

And he was moved with compassion by what he saw.

A sorrow-filled crowd with a weeping widow on their way to bury her only son.

He was so moved because he cared so deeply for the widow.

And for all his people.

He was so moved that he intervened—and raised the young man back to life.

There’s a powerful, successful intervention for you!

Yesterday our attention was yanked back from Syria, thousands of miles away,

To the Navy Yard, just a few blocks down the street.

Families here are weeping now.

Feeling the same painful sorrow that wounded the widow of Nain.

They’re burdened with not only that pain of losing a loved one,

But also the added pain of anger and despair at the wanton, evil violence.

And that pain, especially that added pain, is felt by the whole community.

Just as it is in Syria.

And as it was in Newtown and Ft Hood and Aurora and Columbine.

And everywhere life-robbing evil strikes.

When we look at today’s Gospel we might say:

How blessed they were in Nain!

What comfort we could have if Jesus had been standing near the gate of the Navy Yard!

…

Well, take that comfort.

Because he was there.

And he has already intervened for us.

He’s raised us to something even greater than temporarily restored life.
He's given us eternal life.

He’s opened the gates of Heaven.

When our shock and pain and anger and despair are fresh, it’s hard for us to see.

But when we’ve had some time, when we look carefully, we see---

He’s always there for us.

Tuesday, 24th Week in Ordinary Time

Lk 7:11-17           Read this Scripture @usccb.org