Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Homily)

June 05, 2016 9:00 am · Father Dan Vanyo

In the first reading we hear of Elijah healing the son of a widow, raising from the dead. He lays on the child three times, trinitarian, of course whenever we hear of three times, the Trinity comes to us. Interesting though, a foreshadowing of the resurrection by the man of God. When Jesus does it, the Jews know of the Elijah story.

Twice in the first reading, she says "man of God why did you let this happen, why did you do this to me because of my guilt?" And then at the end, "I know that you are a man of God." Man of God, Man of God. Man of God, the dead rise. Jesus, now this was done during like a funeral, so can you imagine, the pall bearers are carrying this coffin, and the lid pops open, the guy speaks, "Hey fellows, what are you doing?" That's the only line that wasn't in there. Could you imagine? Special graces for those pall bearers. But what are the people saying? God visits his people, a great prophet has arisen, because of the association, when the dead rise, God's involved. He is the life giver. The life breath returns to the child, through the action of the prophet. And it happens in the old testament, and it happens with Jesus, and since then. Some of the Saints, people have risen from the dead. Read some of the lives of the Saints. But before Jesus and after Jesus, a sign of Christ's victory over death, and that the dead will rise again. God has the power of life and is victor over death. It's beautiful.