The bull of St Luke

THE GOSPEL OF LUKE

The Widow of Nain Lk 7,11-17

Having first read this story of the raising of the widow's son, it's best if we begin with the Old Testament background. So look at the story of Elijah and the widow in the first book of Kings (1 Kings 17,8-24). This widow of Zarepath has already been mentioned in Luke's Gospel, see 4,26. Read the whole story of Elijah and the drought (1 K 17,1-24). Look for the connections between the widow of Zarephath and the widow of Nain. Look as well for the differences between the two stories.

Coming now to the story told by Luke, we've seen how the preceding story of the centurion and that of the widow are linked by "soon afterwards" in verse 11. Another link would be the audience mentioned in verses 9 and 11. What do the widow and the centurion have in common? How do they differ? See also Exodus 22,21-24.
Look again at Lk 4,26. In your comparison, note 7,16 especially. How does this story prepare for 7,22?

Who takes the initiative in verse 13 (look carefully)? What is the consequence of Jesus' action in verse 14?

Verse 15 - look at 1 Kings 17,23.

For verse 16, look at Deuteronomy 18,18 and also Acts 3,22. See how 1 Kings 17,24 helps us understand the proclamation in 7,16. See too 1,78.

Then note how verse 17 recalls 4,14.37.

Then go to my response.

The Sunday Gospel

This story of the widow is read on the 10th Sunday of cycle C.
The Old Testament reading is the story from the 1st book of Kings telling of Elijah and his widow (1 Kings 17,17-24), the background we have seen already.

We are now ready to move on to Jesus and John the Baptist.