General. Sin has always existed after the Eden event and will still exist thereafter until man keeps on indulging in it. Yet man’s hope lies in the redemption which Jesus Christ has brought about in such manner that we know that God is always ready to accept us back within the fold through the merits of the Blood which His Son has shed for us.

First Book of Kings. Faith is an inner experience which oftentimes requires more than a simple unconditional assent. People need to see in order to believe and God has often worked through the performance of signs and the working of miracles by persons having His Spirit within them. The woman associates death and ill health with sin while Elijah wanted to prove that grace and oneness with God gives life. He also wanted to show that God and goodness exist, hence the sign or miracle.

Epistle to the Galatians. St Paul describes his immediate response to God’s call thorugh His grace to reveal His Son to the pagan world. Notwithstanding his reputation of being a stalwart of the Jewish faith, he left all to preach Jesus Risen from the dead. When a man discovers God he leaves all that which distracts him from grace and eternity to make this new treasure his own.

St Luke. The first reading and the gospel reading are usually complementary in the Sunday liturgy while the second reading is a continuing recount from an epistle of the New Testament. Jesus here wants to give a sign, the same way Elijah did. In both cases it was a widow who was shown compassion, giving a clear sign that God favours and helps the poor in spirit by giving life back to them, and also forthcoming life everlasting.

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