By Archpriest Rodion Putyatin
"As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out — the only son of his mother, and she was a widow" (Luke 7:12).
"As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out — the only son of his mother, and she was a widow" (Luke 7:12).
Having healed a centurion's servant in absentia in Capernaum, Jesus Christ went from there to a city called Nain. Many of His disciples and a great multitude of people went with Him. When He approached the city gates, they were carrying out the deceased, the mother's only son, and she was a widow, and many people came with her from the city. Seeing her, the Lord took pity on her and said: "Do not weep." And He went up, and He touched the bed; those carrying the bed stopped, and He said: "Young man! I tell you, get up." The dead man got up, sat down and began to speak; and Jesus gave him to his mother.
What a blessing for the poor widow that Jesus Christ approached the city gates at the same time that her dead son was being carried out! Yes, Jesus Christ always keeps pace with where His consolation is needed, He is always where His help is needed.
"God! Now I need your help most of all, Your consolation, hurry to me. It is not my son, but my soul that dies; it dies not by your will, but from my willfulness; dies not according to the law of nature, but from my iniquity; dies not for short while, but forever. My soul dies, my soul is discouraged, and I cry, and I weep, and I grieve over my sins, and still there is no relief for me, and everything is like my dead soul within me. Oh, hurry to me, my sweetest Jesus, have pity on me, the poor one, touch my accursed heart, tell my sad soul: Get up. Hurry, lest you take my soul to a place where it will forever remain dead, where forever I will weep, grieve and lament. Hurry before I die."
Cry out like this, sinner, to the sweetest Jesus, when sinful sorrow, like a heavy burden, weighs on your soul, weep, and He will hear you. As He hears, it will be easy on your soul, you will stop grieving, lamenting and crying inconsolably, you will rise as if from the dead. For Jesus Christ will take away the burden of your sins from you, He will give you life by His grace; and your soul will begin to live and rejoice in spirit in God your Savior. Amen.
What a blessing for the poor widow that Jesus Christ approached the city gates at the same time that her dead son was being carried out! Yes, Jesus Christ always keeps pace with where His consolation is needed, He is always where His help is needed.
"God! Now I need your help most of all, Your consolation, hurry to me. It is not my son, but my soul that dies; it dies not by your will, but from my willfulness; dies not according to the law of nature, but from my iniquity; dies not for short while, but forever. My soul dies, my soul is discouraged, and I cry, and I weep, and I grieve over my sins, and still there is no relief for me, and everything is like my dead soul within me. Oh, hurry to me, my sweetest Jesus, have pity on me, the poor one, touch my accursed heart, tell my sad soul: Get up. Hurry, lest you take my soul to a place where it will forever remain dead, where forever I will weep, grieve and lament. Hurry before I die."
Cry out like this, sinner, to the sweetest Jesus, when sinful sorrow, like a heavy burden, weighs on your soul, weep, and He will hear you. As He hears, it will be easy on your soul, you will stop grieving, lamenting and crying inconsolably, you will rise as if from the dead. For Jesus Christ will take away the burden of your sins from you, He will give you life by His grace; and your soul will begin to live and rejoice in spirit in God your Savior. Amen.
