Father Jorge Ramirez, may your priestly ministry proclaim that the Church is always a place of mercy and hope where everyone is welcomed, loved, and forgiven.

From today's Gospel, when the Lord saw her, he was moved with pity and said to her, “Do not weep.”  He stepped forward and touched the coffin; at this the bearers halted, and he said, “Young man, I tell you arise.”  The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.

Today’s Gospel is the miracle of raising the son of the widow of Nain to life.   But to get the full meaning of this beautiful Gospel account, we must ask, “Who has been raised from the dead?”  A little background to the prevailing culture in the days of Jesus:  women in the Mediterranean world of Jesus’ day had always been under the care of a key man in their lives.  Here we have a widow.  She has lost her husband and thus is vulnerable. Additionally, now she has lost her only son, her only secure source of support.  Without any significant male in her life to take care of her, this woman is as good as dead in her society.  She has lost everything of value in her life;   even her own life has lost its meaning.  With the death of her son, this woman has lost her life; hers is now a living death. 

It is the sight of her that prompts Jesus to action:  “When the Lord saw her, he was moved with pity for her.”  This woman, to have her son restored to life by Jesus, has been given a new lease on meaningful life in the world; she, too, has been raised from the dead.  Why did Jesus do what he did?  In Jesus, God felt compassion for this lost and vulnerable person, whose only hope could be in God alone.

In this gospel account, Jesus restores life to the dead son and to his mom who was experiencing a living death.  We see a God who raises the dead to life and also a God who cares for us.  Jesus has come to reveal God as a God who loves us unconditionally, as a God who accepts as we are.

 We see Jesus raising the dead to life, and we see also restoring hope and meaning in the life of this grieving widow.  As we discern the call of God in our lives, as the community of the baptized, right now you and I are called to be Christ to the widows and hurting people of our day.   We are the body of Christ.  Jesus’ ministry of compassion and mercy is to continue through us. Mercy is at the heart of God’s reaching out to us.

In today’s scriptures both Elijah and Jesus were life–givers in God’s name.

The life-giving motif that permeates the scriptures today challenges the Church to be strong defender of life in all forms and at every stage of existence.  The church needs to raise its voice in defense of the unborn and in defense of all those who are born.  Wherever the sacredness of life is under threat, the Church of Jesus needs to be life-giving.

Today we celebrate the First Mass of our newly ordained Father Jorge (George) Ramirez.  This is a day of special joy for me.  I feel like Father’s George’s spiritual father.  As the then Director of Seminarians for the Diocese of Rochester, I and Brother Juan Lozada back in 2008 visited Medellin, Columbia to interview possible candidates for the priesthood for the Church of Rochester.  At that time, we interviewed both Father Jorge and Father Sergio and recommended to Bishop Clark that they be accepted as seminarians for the Diocese of Rochester.  From that day to this, I have had the immense privilege of supporting, mentoring, and praying for George on his journey to the priesthood.

He has responded so beautifully to the working of God’s grace in his life.  Do you agree with me on that?   It takes a bit of trust in God’s abiding presence in his life for Jorge to leave his country and his family and journey to the Diocese of Rochester to prepare for his ordination to the priesthood.  George had to learn a new language, study theology at St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore, and do his pastoral year at St. Joseph’s with us. His priestly formation demanded that he place his faith and trust in God’s will for him as well as determination to embrace his seminary formation with every ounce of his energy.  Father George has done this very, very well.

As we reflect on today’s Scripture, the ministry of a priest is to be a life-giver. Father George, in all those you will baptize, the waters of baptism will bestow the life of Christ Jesus on those you baptize.  What a privilege ministry to share the life of Christ Jesus in those you will baptize – whether infants or as adults.

In those you will absolve of their sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, you will be a life-giver.  For us, sin brings death to our spirit and our souls, the Sacrament of Reconciliation will reconcile those who are dead to be reconciled in Christ Jesus.  Your words of absolution will share the healing and forgiving love of Jesus with those who wish this beautiful sacrament of the Lord’s forgiving love.

As you now celebrate this mystery of the Eucharist, the bread and wine you consecrate becomes the life-giving Bread of Life to a spiritually hungry people.  When you act in the person and the ministry of Jesus, you bring the life of Christ to this faith community and the other parish communities you will so generously serve.

In the words of Jesus, “I came that they might have life and have it in abundance.  As this was the mission of Jesus, so it is your mission as well Father George.  May you share the fullness of the Lord’s life with all you serve, most especially those who stand most in need.

Father Jorge, you are ordained in the Jubilee Year of Mercy as proclaimed by our Holy Father Pope Francis, my prayer for you is that your priestly ministry will be characterized by your proclamation of the merciful love of Jesus.  May you always witness to mercy as the very heart of the Gospel.

Father Jorge, may your priestly ministry proclaim that the Church is always a place of mercy and hope where everyone is welcomed, loved, and forgiven.