THE XV. SUNDAY after Pentecost. Meditation For Sunday Fr. Thomas Hill Plain Pathway to Heaven

 

THE GOSPEL. Luc. 7. V. 11.

Jesus went unto the City Naim and there wet with him his disciples, and a great multitude of people. And when he came nigh to the gates of the City, Behold a dead body was a carrying out to be buried, the only Son of his Mother, and she a widow : and a great company of the City with her. Whom when our Lord saw, being moved with pity over her, he said unto her : Do not weep, and he went and touched the Coffin, and those that carried the corpse, stood still. And he Said: Young man, I say to thee arise, and he sat up that was dead, and began to speak, & he gave him to his Mother. And all the company were stricken with fear and magnified God. Saying; That a great Prophet was risen amongst them, & that God did visit his people.

Sunday.

Jesus went not to the City Naim by chance, but of purpose, knowing all things (as he was God) to comfort this sorrowful widow: Worldly men use not to shun, but to hunt after all opportunities far and nigh, by sea, and land, night and day, to benefit themselves in worldly commodities: much more ought we so to do, in the works of mercy, & other spiritual commodities, knowing the certain reward thereof, That what we, sow in this world, we shall be sure to reap in the next, Galat. 6. Cor 9.v.6. so much better things then we sow, by how much better the soul is then the body: & oftentimes we are also bountifully rewarded here, hundred fold in this world, and life everlasting. Mat. 19.4

This made Abraham to go forth out of his house, at dinner time, in all the heat of the day, to meet with poor weary travelers and pilgrims, & invite them, not slightly, but rather compel them to his house to eat and drink, and refresh themselves, and instead of men he met once with Angels in the shape of men, and brought them into his house, and for this he was rewarded, with being made a Father of Son, being destitute of issue, and past human hope, by reason of old age: he was made a Father, I say, of a Son, & such a son, in whom all generations were blessed, of whose offspring came Christ Jesus, the Messiahs and Saviour of the world. Gen 18.V 1.

Of this virtue of Hospitality S. Paul sayth thus: Brethren let the charity of fraternity remain in you, and forget not hospitality, for by this, divers have instead of men, received Angels, Hebr.1 v.2 and in receiving Angels, have no doubt received the benediction and reward of Angels, as we may gather out of these words of Christ, He that receive a Prophet in the name of a Prophet, shall receive the reward of Prophet: and he that receive a just man, in the name of a just man, shall receive the reward of a just man: and he that giveth but a cup of cold water to the least of the poor, shall not lose his reward, Mat. 10. 41. which benediction and reward we shall also receive, if we receive and relieve the poor for Christ his sake, of whom Christ sayth, what ye down to such, ye do unto me. Mat 25 V 40. Thus much of hospitality and relieving the poor, one of the works of mercy, by reason of Christ his not relieving, but reviving this young man, which is more, & comforting his sorrowful Mother.