Homily for Tuesday of the 24th Week in Ordinary Time

In our Gospel reading, we hear about a widow mourning her only son. In the time and place where this scene occurs, a widow would have no means to provide for herself; she would have to rely on her son. In this case, her only son has died, leaving her in a vulnerable and desperate situation. She perhaps mourns not only for her dead son but also for the destitute life ahead of her, a life without any means of support or protection.

So, Jesus’ raising her son from the dead is not simply a miracle of life after death. It is another example of Jesus’ universal compassion for the poor, the suffering, and those who mourn—a compassion that is often lacking in our world but one that we are all called to embody.

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