Third Week of Lent – Thursday
From Presbyterian Outlook Devotions, Jill Duffield, Editor
Luke 7:11-17
11 Soon afterwards he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him. 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. 13 When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, “Do not weep.” 14 Then he came forward and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, rise!” 15 The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. 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!” 17 This word about him spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding country.
When the Lord saw the widow grieving the death of her son, he had compassion on her. Acts of healing begin with the feeling of compassion. Often, we suppress the urge to act with compassion and look for excuses not to or we second guess ourselves. Today, give in to any compassionate impulses. Pay attention to what happens when you act.
Compassionate Lord, over and over in Scripture we hear of how you are moved with pity. Your tender-hearted responses to the grief of human beings gives us hope.
You comfort those who mourn and promise to wipe the tears of every eye. Help us to
carry those losses and griefs we can no longer bear. Hear our weeping and give us
a word of grace. Amen.
