September 15th is the 16th Sunday after Trinity. Dead sons of widows are raised to life in both the Old and New Testament lessons. Both resurrections foreshadowed the resurrection of Jesus and the situation of Mary, his mother.
The Old Testament Lesson is from 1 Kings 17:17-24. Not long after the widow of Zarephath had taken in Elijah, her son become very ill and died. She reacted much as we often do by associating the calamity with her past sins. But God raised her son at Elijah’s request to confirm and strengthen her faith.
In the Gospel lesson, Luke 7:11-17, Jesus encounters a funeral procession for a young man who was the only son of a widow. Moved with compassion, he raised the widow’s son so that she would have someone to support her. Unlike Elijah, who asked God to restore the child’s life, Jesus speaks to the dead man and commands him to rise. Ponder that!
The Epistle Lesson is Ephesians 3:13-21. Paul wrote to the Ephesians from prison. First, he lets them know that God’s power is at work throughout the church and that therefore they should not be discouraged by his imprisonment. Then he tells them that he is praying for them, because he wants them to grow in faith and to trust in God who can do far more than we ask of think. Not every calamity is prevented, nor is every disease cured, nor is every prisoner released, but the work of God goes on despite these things through those who trust and serve him as they await the return of Christ and the resurrection of all who have died.