Homily for the Memorial of Saints Cornelius and Cyprian

In our Gospel reading, we encounter a widow who is mourning the loss of her only son. In the time and place of this scene, a widow had no means to provide for herself and had to rely on her son for support. With her only son now deceased, she finds herself in a vulnerable and desperate situation. Her mourning likely extends beyond her son's death; she may also lament the bleak future that awaits her, one without any means of support or protection.

When Jesus raises her son from the dead, it is not merely a miracle of life after death. It exemplifies Jesus' universal compassion for the poor, the suffering, and those who grieve—a compassion that often seems lacking in our world, yet we are all called to embody it.

Let us recognize our role in this divine plan. We should pray that Jesus' compassion fills our hearts and souls, as well as our words and actions, so that His love can be spread through us as His ambassadors in the world.