Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Congratulations with the feast of the Resurrection of the Lord, as well as the feastday of the fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council!

In today’s Gospel reading we heard how our Saviour, accompanied by many of His disciples, was passing by a small village and how He resurrected a certain young man, most likely a teenager, the only son of a widow. We also heard how the citizens of this town became frightened by this miracle, how they considered that Jesus was a great prophet and how they believed that God had visited His people.

St. Luke notes that Christ performed this miracle for the sake of the boy’s mother, because she was left completely alone after his death. If we remember the other times Christ resurrected the dead, we will see the same thing. It’s not for the sake of the dead that Jesus raised them up, but for the sake of others (the daughter of Jairus for the sake of her parents, Lazarus for the sake of the apostles). At first glance this may seem strange. What could be more important, more precious than life? Of course this is true, but we could add that there is nothing more frightening, more torturous than your own death. Without a doubt, these resurrected people had wonderful moments in their lives, but later they had to once again go through the whole process of dying. Therefore the evangelists are right to make note of the fact that these miracles were performed for the sake of others.

Perhaps the main reason for these miracles was to prepare the Jews to accept the idea that Christ Himself will resurrect. Another reason was to prepare all people to believe in the general resurrection at the end of times, because many Jews and especially gentiles thought that such an ideas was utter nonsense. Of course we cannot forget that through these acts Christ manifested His mercy, sympathy and love towards the relatives of the dead.

Finally, let’s take note of the reaction of the witnesses of this miracle. At first glance everything seems fine. There are no scandals, as often happened when Christ performed a miracle. No one has been offended. No one has asked or forced Christ to leave. Everyone is amazed and glad. Everyone considers Jesus a prophet. In reality, things are not as good as they seem. These people have somehow missed the fact that Jesus is not a prophet, not even a great prophet, but Christ, the Saviour of the world. No one worships Him, no one confesses Him to be the Son of God, God or Christ. No one asks Him to stay with them. At other times and places people had such reactions, but not here.

There is much to think about today. How do we personally believe in the Resurrection of our Saviour and the general resurrection? Is this some kind of abstract idea, a commemoration of
some ancient miracle, or is it that which enlightens our whole life? When we awake in the morning, do we remember the risen Christ? Throughout the course of the day, do we keep in our mind the thought that at the end of time we will resurrect, and that our future condition very much depends on how we live our life today? Whom do we consider Jesus Christ to be? A wise teacher, a great miracle-worker, an example of how to live, or Life and Light, that is Him who enlivens everything, He who enlightens and shows the way and guides all aspects of our life?

priest Alexis