Raising the dead

A complex of stories is given as readings for this week The Second Sunday after Pentecost June 6th 2010

• 1 Kings 17:8-16, (17-24) and Psalm 146 •
• 1 Kings 17:17-24 and Psalm 30 •
• Galatians 1:11-24 •
• Luke 7:11-17

Luke 7:11-17

7:11 Soon afterwards he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him.

7:12 As he approached the gate of the town, a man who had died was being carried out. He was his mother's only son, and she was a widow; and with her was a large crowd from the town.

7:13 When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, "Do not weep."

7:14 Then he came forward and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, rise!"

7:15 The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.

7:16 Fear seized all of them; and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has risen among us!" and "God has looked favorably on his people!"

7:17 This word about him spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding country.

Any story in which a dead person comes back to life is going to present the modern Christian with some difficulties

Such stories do not sit easily with us.

Though I have had at least one occasion in which a dead person was indeed found to be alive some hours after they had been declared to be dead.

That experience (and a whole range of other experiences) lead me to believe that we often try to be more definite about death

than death actually allows us to be.

In recent weeks, for example, my aunt who was "given 24 hours to live"

rallied and was quite lucid for a few days.

It is not therefore terribly surprising to find in ancient times that there was one occasion, at least, where a person who had "died" was found to be alive.

We do not have to "explain this story away", my point is that death is not an easily definable phenomenon

and the point of this story is that things are different when Jesus is there with us

This is the steadfast experience of those who die

that the presence of the Risen Jesus makes a difference to the way we encounter death.

For a woman with an only son,

the consoling power of the Spirit of Jesus

can be not only comforting

but also transforming and healing.

Your experience of death

What is is your most recent experience of death?

Where is God in this, and what might God be saying and doing in your life?

Pray for comfort and encouragement for those who grieve, and for healing and wholeness for ourselves as we look for meaning in the face of death.