We get up again

In a dark and stormy night, an American, a Canadian and a Scot were injured in a car accident. All three were taken to hospital, although all three were dead before arrival. Just as they were about to put the toe tag in the Americas region, he woke up and opened his eyes. Astonished, the doctors and nurses asked him what had happened.

The American replied: "I remember the incident, and had a white light, and then the Canadian and Scottish and I was standingat the gates of paradise. St. Peter approached us and said they were too young to die, and that a donation of $ 150 could return to Earth. So naturally, I took out my wallet and gave him $ 150 and next thing I knew to be back here. "

One doctor said: "'s incredible, but what happened to the other two?"

The American said: "The last thing he saw, the Scot was haggling over the price, and the Canadian was waiting for the government paysit. "

Imagine the scene in today's Gospel for a moment. The widow had just lost her only son. Since the husband is dead, she is faced with terrible personal and financial difficulties. In those days widows were supported by the eldest son. To make matters worse, the child was buried within 24 hours after his death, as was customary at that time due to the decomposition problem combined with the heat. She has not had time to begin to understand the meaning ofloss.

As the funeral is out of town, Jesus and his followers from the village of Nain. He immediately stopped the funeral procession to pass, something many of us today, although some do not. When Jesus sees what is happening, it was moved by compassion. He comforted the widow, and then takes her son to life.

This is not the first time that Jesus rose from the dead. One called the Word of Life 1 John 1:01 isLord of living and the dead according to Romans 14:09. This parallel can also read the Old Testament from 1 Kings 17:8-24 we heard this morning that Elijah raised the widow's son from death. The difference is in how the two children dead rose to life. Elijah in his body on the upper body of the widow's son, while Jesus was simply touching the body.

Someone pointed out that in all cases where someone has raised Jesus from the dead has called each person who diedindividually. He did it because if it was specified that the person was to climb every tomb in Israel and around the world can have open at your service. Jesus is powerful. In contrast, the tombs of others and those who have died since then, it will open at the time of the second coming.

This is a story of miracles. Christ still works miracles in our lives today. Sometimes miracles are a direct result of prayer. A good example of this involves ourformer priest in charge. Some of you have heard about a month and a half ago, the cancer returned, but in an e-mail sent a couple of weeks ago, said that according to the evidence it had before that day, there was no sign of cancer in everything! You must visit your oncologist and other specialists for further tests to make sure the cancer has gone really, but he and his doctor, who is also a Christian, said that this miracle was a directresult of the prayers, the laying on of hands and anointing you received as a member of the Order of St. Luke. The cure depends on the degree of faith we have or we are right. If we have faith that is as small as a mustard seed, God can and will do miracles in our lives.

The healing and wholeness are cousins. To heal is to do together, and everything you need to do to be saved. God heals the body and mind simultaneously. God not only healed on a whim. It doesso we can see his glory, listen to his words and sing its praises. God uses miracles as signs of his power.

All of Jesus' healings were the result of his compassion for people. When he saw the widow and go to their friends, assessed the situation and thought of a way to respond. Just do not be on the side of the road and see the procession pass. I wanted to do something to show these people in mourning in the kingdom of God, a kingdom that knows no pain. InTo carry out this plan, Jesus had to touch the coffin. In so doing, broke one of the laws of the time. According to Jewish law, touching a corpse made a person unclean for seven days. Jesus did not care about rules or customs. For him, faith, love and actions were more important. Do not have to fit a model ready for your help. Do not hold your compassion, because they meet a quota act or because we do not say the right word, or because we do not follow theappropriate ritual.

One might think that the grieving widow would have been happy when Jesus showed his compassion, but it was not. His grief turned to fear. This is understandable. After all, if we were in the same situation would probably be too scared. Their fear is a fear well, however, because it brought the beginning of wisdom. E fear 'as an emotion or the opportunities that our faith has found a completely new expression.

The key point in this story is not faith. Notthanks to both. After all, Luke does not say whether the widow and son said "thank you" to Jesus This story is about grace, pure, genuine request, undiluted, he said, and not mercy. This miracle is that Jesus has compassion for the widow, as has mercy for us. Jesus does not offer political or economic solutions to modern problems. He gives us an idea of ​​God's way of dealing with human misery and suffering of infinite compassion and mercy.

Nothing isWe can not impossible for God, but God can. God can, if we believe God can, if you let it go, and be willing to help if needed. Because he sees and understands, who can give us the strength to move forward. Jesus understands why he was there. He knows what it means to suffer the loss of a loved one. After all, it hurt when John the Baptist and Lazarus died. He knows how they feel their parents when a child dies because he saw the agony that his mother Mary, went through the deathon the cross. Even if Jesus is the Son of God, he is the Son of Man. His compassion is moved to help when we are wrong. It has a human nature that feels pain and sadness, compassion and joy. What touches us in our moments of discouragement and despair and help us overcome our grief. God can raise hope and faith.

As I said before, the works of Christ through miracles and show compassion today. His henchmen are at work, and are inspired by their faith in JesusAre doctors and nurses in our communities and hospitals. They are chaplains and ministers who minister to the sick in hospitals, prisons, or families who just lost a loved one. They are the undertakers in providing aid and comfort in times of death. Neighbors and friends are concerned that sending food or cards when someone has died. They are the unsung heroes who respond in times of disasters like the recent earthquake in Haiti. Ifpeacekeepers who are willing to risk their lives for peace in the world. Most of them are anonymous, but they are people whose faces of evil people in the world can see the face of Christ.

Occasionally one of these servers became famous Christian. An example is Mother Teresa, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 for his work with Indian people. During his ministry here, she and her staff saved thousands of lives and thousands more have the chance to die with dignity,peace and compassion. When asked about the formula for success, she does not talk about recruitment or fundraising or creating beds. In his words, said his secret was "love as Jesus loves, helping as it helps, giving as it provides serve as He serves, as it rescues the rescue, to be with him for 24 hours, playing in his distressing disguise. "

Many of you, especially those of you who are about my age, you may be familiar with Eric Clapton,Grammy Award winning English guitarist, singer and songwriter. It is one of the most influential musicians of the rock era, and was inserted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame three times. A warm spring day in 1991, he received a phone call from his wife telling her that four and a half years old son Connor had fallen to death accidentally by scanning a window in his apartment in New York. I could not believe my ears, so he ran home and foundemergency personnel around the world. Only then did he realize that what his wife told him it was true. A few months later, he told Rolling Stone magazine, "I just turned to stone and started to leave .... there was no way I could have never prepared for what happened. But over time I discovered that could not help but to feel the pain of the death of Connor. I had to go through the suffering. "

In the midst of his suffering, he turned to his music and wrote a very personal song to express their grief. Thatpopular song became a hit called "Tears in Heaven" and his words speak of his research for the cure of his broken heart, because you can talk about the search for someone to cure a broken heart. These are some of the words he wrote:

"You know my name if I saw you in heaven?
Would you hold my hand if I saw you in heaven?
I must be strong to keep going, because I do not belong here in heaven. "

The last words of the song are:

"Beyondthe door, no peace for granted
And I know no more tears in heaven "

Rick Warren once said: "The crisis creates a moment in life when we can change our dependence on something that can take us Through it, God teaches us that we lose our homes., Our careers, our marriages, or our health, but never, never lose our relationship with God. He has promised not to leave us or forsake us and that is an eternal security we can build our lives. " Godknows our pain, and no matter how dark or painful our situation may be, Jesus can bring hope. There are times when we feel like the rejection of that hope and embrace our despair. At times like this, we must seek God and allow light our way through the pain and sorrow into hope and joy.

I would end up with a personal story. May 1987 was an intense month for my family. In the space of 10 days, we had the wedding of my brother, my college degree and the death of my fatherbrother. My uncle was suffering from lung cancer and for years he and my father had been very close. Unfortunately, this does not change until I heard from a mutual friend that my uncle was dying and that my father should go see him one last time. My parents went to spend time with him, and just before going home, my uncle told my father: "Why do you go" In other words, he knew that his time was short, and in fact died ten days later. Dad was athe funeral, and later told me that the last thing my uncle said to his wife before he died was: ". See you in heaven"

My uncle was a doctor of the Baptist Church, and he had great faith, a faith not waiver in the face of his terminal illness and death. I knew that despite his suffering Jesus would show him and his compassion. He knew that Jesus is the Great Comforter, and the knowledge that we can give hope and comfort in times of pain andsuffering.

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