Fr Paul reads from the Gospel of Luke (7: 11-17) in which Jesus raises to life the widow’s son and gives him back to his mother. Fr Paul says the story of the widow’s son is told with typical Lukan delicacy. He stresses that this was her only son, so her only hope in the world because in biblical times a woman without a man was helpless, and so Jesus feels for her. Thankfully times have changed!! At the end of the Gospel, we are reminded of the Old Testament stories by the acclamation that a great prophet has arisen. In Luke, Jesus is often characterized as a prophet because of his foreknowledge and his prophesying. In today’s Gospel, Fr Paul says we see and hear of a compassionate Jesus and invites us to reflect ‘How can I be compassionate to those around me?’