By Akhsi Wary, CSC –
Readings: 1Tim 3:1-13, Lk 7:11-17
In today’s gospel we see the merciful and compassionate face of Jesus, who willingly and knowingly took the initiative to raise the dead son of a widow. Jesus plays the role of a true neighbour. Today, Jesus is teaching us something about sensitivity, being responsible and comforters of those who are in grief and despair.
Jesus wants from us to have all these attitudes and practice in our day to day living. In this world of self-gratification, at times we think these kinds of attitudes or acts are foolishness, therefore we neglect and ignore them deliberately. In fact, innumerable opportunities come our way each day to show little acts of responsibility and sensitiveness. Similarly, in today’s gospel Jesus wants us to spring into action starting with those we live and meet with every day. As the popular saying goes “Charity begins at home”.
If we are not able to help or love whom we know very well, it is much more difficult to help and love whom we don’t even know. This is what we are called to, before going out to help others. We must first help our family and community members who are really in need of our help and love and then to others outside.
Therefore, let’s start wherever we are, with simple acts, and a gentle smile to our community members and friends. We can take trouble to render a little help to our brothers and sisters, spend quality time in our communities and with the family members, extending fraternal corrections to our friends and to become more enthusiastic and energetic in whatever good act we do. All these acts must come from our heart willingly and knowingly. These are the simple and small acts that Jesus wants us to do.