God Has Indeed Visited His People

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily for the Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

St. Gerard Majella Church

Sunday, June 9, 2013

Faced with the reality of death, we all are helpless. No human invention and scientific advancement has been able to prevent death. In one sense, death is a tragedy because it is the end of human life. In another sense, it is healing because it frees the dead from all pains, sufferings, frustrations and disappointments. But no matter what sense we view death, it is always a painful experience- but not to the dead but the living. The death of a beloved person creates a vacuum. And nothing hurts more than the death of a young person. When a family mourns the death of a young man or woman, all we can say to them is: “Take heart;” “Take courage;” “I am so sorry;” “Accept my sympathy.” That’s all we can do- to offer our support and encouragement to the bereaved family.

The Gospel of today’s Mass taken from Luke 7:11-17 is the story of the death of a young man. He was the only son of a widow. The woman’s tragedy was double. She had already lost her husband- the love of her life and the breadwinner of the family. And when she taught that her only son would be able to learn a trade or get a job, make a living and support her financially, he was snatched away from her by the cold hand of death. What a pity? The news of the death of the young man was told far and wide because he was the only son of the widow and because of the fact that she too had already buried her husband. As such, a large crowd from the city came to be with her and to sympathize with her. The young man’s death is one of those deaths that touches and pains the heart and its pain goes so deep to the bone marrow.  

But as the lifeless body of the young man was being carried out in a procession to the cemetery, Jesus, the true and the best friend in need and in deed showed up. With a voice laden with compassion and confidence, he approached the widow and said: “Do not weep.” Common Jesus! Do not weep? Did you say to a woman who had already buried her husband and is about to bury her only son not to weep? If she doesn’t weep, should she be laughing? What is there to laugh about? But the good and compassionate Lord has a back-up plan: “He stepped forward and touched the coffin; at this the bearers halted, and he said, ‘Young man, I tell you, arise!” 

Jesus’ compassion is life-giving. His love and kindness give life. His pity for us, especially for those who experience disappointment, frustration and suffering gives life and ushers in a breath of fresh air. The pity he felt for the widow was so deep that he was willing to thwart the course of nature. Since the Fall of our First Parents, death has become natural to humans. And once someone dies, we don’t sit around and wait for the dead person to rise; we bury the remains of the deceased. But the compassion of Jesus for a lonely widow was so profound as to move him to derail the course of nature. He felt  her pain and loss. He put himself in her shoes. He made her sorrow his own sorrow. He did not stand idly by and try to blame the young man for being the cause of his own death or to blame the widow for being responsible for the tragic deaths that had occurred in her family. He knew he could do something; he knew he has power to do something; he knew he can make a difference and he did it.  Compassion led him! Compassion made him to! 

When the dead man sat up and began to speak, fear, shock and awe seized the people, but it wasn’t a dispersing fear. It wasn’t the kind of fear that usually make people to take to their heels, rather, the kind that causes people to want to know more. The kind of fear expressed by the people does not cripple, it leads to praise, thanksgiving and glorification. It does not cause harm but joy. In summary, it is called “wonder!”

Having been seized by wonder-fear the people exclaim: “A great prophet has arisen in our midst,” and “God has visited his people.” Yes indeed God has visited his people! When they said “God has visited his people” I am sure they did not understand fully what they were talking about. They made those comments referring to a far distant God, not knowing that God has already migrated and is living like them and with them. God has come to visit his people. He is with his people. He is with us! Is the Lord’s name not Immanuel- God is with us? 

Sisters and brothers, God has indeed visited his people, but in what ways have we seen this happen? Has the power of the word of God in the Bible ever touched us? When we read the word of God or hear it proclaimed at Mass, do we take it as God visiting us and speaking to us? Are we even aware that God is constantly visiting us through his word in the Scripture? When we encounter those who mourn and grieve, those who suffer, those who need our attention, does their living condition and pain draw out of us the kind of compassion that Jesus showed the widow in today’s Gospel? Let’s be clear! When we give water to the thirsty, God has visited his people. When we feed the hungry, God has visited his people. When we clothe the naked, God has visited his people. When we assist the homeless find shelter, God has visited his people. When we visit the sick, the imprisoned, the bereaved, the poor, God has visited his people. When we offer financial assistance for the care of the poor, when we give to Catholic Charities, St. Vincent de Paul Society, The Salvation Army etc., God has visited his people. When we give generously our time, talent and treasure in support of our church and its ministry, then God has visited his people through us.

God is with us to save us! He is with us to comfort us. He is with us to accompany us. He is with us as our Way. He is with us as the Truth; he is with us as our Life. The Lord is with us performing so many miracles, but more often than not, they are not dramatic ones like the one in today’s Gospel. But God still works miracles in our lives. So often they take place in the heart of a person, with no crowd to witness them. But when we look around us, there are always miracles of life, miracles of hope, miracles of peace, miracles of grace, miracles of comfort, miracles of care, miracles of restoration, miracles of thanksgiving, miracles of faithfulness, miracles of victories and successes, miracles of healing, miracles of life turned around, miracles of liberation from addiction, miracles of recovery from sickness, miracles of new thing emerging after a period of frustration, disappointment and failure. God is with us working miracles and wonder. Psalm 46:7 tells us: “The Lord of host is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.”