The document provides information for an upcoming Bible study, including summaries of the readings. The first reading tells of the prophet Elijah reviving the dead son of a widow. The psalm response expresses praise to God for being rescued from distress. The second reading recounts Paul's former life persecuting Christians and his revelation from God to proclaim the Gospel to Gentiles. The Gospel reading describes Jesus having pity on a widow whose only son had died and raising the son back to life.

1. Welcome to our Bible Study
10th
Sunday in the Ordinary Time C
5 June 2016
In preparation for this Sunday’s Liturgy
As aid in focusing our homilies and sharing
Prepared by Fr. Cielo R. Almazan, OFM

2. 1st
reading: 1 Kgs 17,17-24
17 Some time later the son of the mistress of the house fell
sick, and his sickness grew more severe until he stopped
breathing. 8 So she said to Elijah, "Why have you done this
to me, O man of God? Have you come to me to call attention
to my guilt and to kill my son?“ 19 "Give me your son,"
Elijah said to her. Taking him from her lap, he carried him to
the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his
own bed. 20 He called out to the LORD: "O LORD, my God,
will you afflict even the widow with whom I am staying by
killing her son?“ 21 Then he stretched himself out upon the
child three times and called out to the LORD: "O LORD, my
God, let the life breath return to the body of this child.“ 22
The LORD heard the prayer of Elijah; the life breath returned
to the child's body and he revived. 23 Taking the child,
Elijah brought him down into the house from the upper room
and gave him to his mother. "See!" Elijah said to her, "your
son is alive.“ 24 "Now indeed I know that you you are a
man of God," the woman replied to Elijah. "The word of the
LORD comes truly from your mouth."
The focus is on the revival of the child.

3. 1st
reading: 1 Kings 17,17-24
Dead son
17 Some time later the son of the mistress of the house fell sick, and his
sickness grew more severe until he stopped breathing.
Blame on Elijah
8 So she said to Elijah, "Why have you done this to me, O man of God?
Have you come to me to call attention to my guilt and to kill my son?“
Elijah revives the son
19 "Give me your son," Elijah said to her. Taking him from her lap, he
carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on
his own bed. 20 He called out to the LORD: "O LORD, my God, will
you afflict even the widow with whom I am staying by killing her son?“
21 Then he stretched himself out upon the child three times and
called out to the LORD: "O LORD, my God, let the life breath return to
the body of this child.“
The son revived
22 The LORD heard the prayer of Elijah; the life breath returned to the
child's body and he revived. 23 Taking the child, Elijah brought him
down into the house from the upper room and gave him to his mother.
"See!" Elijah said to her, "your son is alive.“ 24 "Now indeed I know
that you you are a man of God," the woman replied to Elijah. "The
word of the LORD comes truly from your mouth."
A simple outline!

4. Textual Context of 1 Kings 17,17-24
Outline by NAB
1. The Reign of Solomon (1 Kgs 1,1—11,43)
2. Judah and Israel to the Time of Ahab (1 Kgs
12,1—16,34)
3. Stories of the Prophets (1 Kgs 17,1—22,54)
4. The Kingdoms of Israel and Judah (2 Kgs 1,1—
17,41)
5. The Kingdom of Judah after 721 BC (2 Kgs
18,1—25,30)
Drought predicted by Elijah (1 Kgs 17,1-6)
Elijah and the Widow (1 Kgs 17,7-24)
Elijah and the Prophets of Baal (1 Kgs 18,1-46)

5. Elijah

6. 1st
reading: 1 Kings 17,17-24
Dead son
17 Some time later the son of the
mistress of the house fell sick, and
his sickness grew more severe until
he stopped breathing.
Blame on Elijah
8 So she said to Elijah, "Why have you
done this to me, O man of God?
Have you come to me to call
attention to my guilt and to kill my
son?“
Elijah revives the son
19 "Give me your son," Elijah said to
her. Taking him from her lap, he
carried him to the upper room
where he was staying, and laid him
on his own bed. 20 He called out to
the LORD: "O LORD, my God, will
you afflict even the widow with
whom I am staying by killing her
son?“ 21 Then he stretched himself
out upon the child three times and
called out to the LORD: "O LORD,
my God, let the life breath return to
the body of this child.“
Commentary
 V.17 continues the story of
Elijah’s stay in a house. But
something happens. The son
gets sick and dies.
 In v.18, the mother puts the
blame on Elijah.
 As a prophet, Elijah is
supposed to protest against
sin (but not to kill the
innocent).
 In v.19, Elijah takes actions:
 He takes the child from
her lap.
 He carries him up to the
upper room.
 He lays him on his own
bed.
 In v. 20, he prays to God.
 In v.21, he makes a little
exercise and prays.

7. 1st
reading: 1 Kings 17,17-24
The revived son
22 The LORD heard the prayer
of Elijah; the life breath
returned to the child's body
and he revived. 23 Taking
the child, Elijah brought him
down into the house from the
upper room and gave him to
his mother. "See!" Elijah said
to her, "your son is alive.“
24 "Now indeed I know that
you you are a man of God,"
the woman replied to Elijah.
"The word of the LORD comes
truly from your mouth."
 In v.22, the Lord hears
Elijah’s prayer. The
child starts breathing
and is revived.
 In v.23, Elijah brings
the child back to his
mother.
 In v.24, the woman
recognizes that Elijah is
a man of God (a
prophet).
 As a prophet, he speaks
the life giving Word of
God.

8. Reflections on the 1st
reading
 Sometimes, we are blamed for the misfortunes of
others.
 Like Elijah, we should take this opportunity to reverse
the impression.
 We take action and we pray hard.
 We demonstrate that we come from God and we have
the power of his Word.
 We can revive dead relationships.
 In this Year of Faith, in the New Evangelization, we
again rekindle our flickering faith, our relationship with
God and with others.

9. Responsorial Ps 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11, 12, 13
 R. (2a) I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
 2 I will extol you, O LORD, for you drew me clear
and did not let my enemies rejoice over me.
4 O LORD, you brought me up from the nether world;
you preserved me from among those going down into the pit.

4 Sing praise to the LORD, you his faithful ones,
and give thanks to his holy name.
5 For his anger lasts but a moment;
a lifetime, his good will.
6 At nightfall, weeping enters in,
but with the dawn, rejoicing.
 11 Hear, O LORD, and have pity on me;
O LORD, be my helper.
12 You changed my mourning into dancing;
13 O LORD, my God, forever will I give you thanks.

10. Responsorial Ps 30:2,4, 5-6, 11, 12, 13
 R. (2a) I will praise you, Lord, for
you have rescued me.
 2 I will extol you, O LORD, for you
drew me clear and did not let my
enemies rejoice over me.
4 O LORD, you brought me up from
the nether world;
you preserved me from among those
going down into the pit.

4 Sing praise to the LORD, you his
faithful ones, and give thanks to his
holy name.
5 For his anger lasts but a moment;
a lifetime, his good will.
6 At nightfall, weeping enters in,
but with the dawn, rejoicing.
 11 Hear, O LORD, and have pity on
me; O LORD, be my helper.
12 You changed my mourning into
dancing;
13 O LORD, my God, forever will I
give you thanks.
Commentary
 The psalm seems to be the
prayer of the woman in 1 Kgs.
 In v.2, the psalmist is thankful
for saving him from his
enemies.
 In v.2, the psalmist mentions
how God saved him from
death.
 In v.4, the psalmist invites
others to praise and thank
God.
 In v.5, the psalmist recognizes
the shortness of God’s anger
and enduring good will.
 In v.6, he mentions his own
cycle of weeping and rejoicing.
 V.11 is a prayer for mercy.
 V.12 is similar to v.6.
 In v.13, the psalmist promises
to give God thanks for ever.

11. Reflections on the Psalm
 We may have a belief that we suffer from
persecutions to the point of near death
because we might have earned the ire of
God, because we committed grave sins.
 When we have this feeling, we must
approach God for mercy, like the psalmist.
 We must believe that God’s anger does not
last long.
 We bank on his mercy and love (good will)
which is forever.

12. 2nd
reading: Galatians 1,11-19
 11 Now I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel
preached by me is not of human origin. 12 For I did not
receive it from a human being, nor was I taught it, but it came
through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you heard of my
former way of life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of
God beyond measure and tried to destroy it, 14 and
progressed in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries
among my race, since I was even more a zealot for my
ancestral traditions. 15 But when (God), who from my
mother's womb had set me apart and called me through his
grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son to me, so that I might
proclaim him to the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult
flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who
were apostles before me; rather, I went into Arabia and then
returned to Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to
Jerusalem to confer with Kephas and remained with him for
fifteen days. 19 But I did not see any other of the apostles,
only James the brother of the Lord.
The focus is on the journey of Paul in faith.

13. 2nd
reading: Galatians 1,11-19
The Gospel preached
 11 Now I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel preached by
me is not of human origin. 12 For I did not receive it from a human
being, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus
Christ.
Paul’s former way of life
 13 For you heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how I
persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it,
14 and progressed in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries
among my race, since I was even more a zealot for my ancestral
traditions.
Paul’s new way of life
 15 But when (God), who from my mother's womb had set me apart
and called me through his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son to
me, so that I might proclaim him to the Gentiles, I did not
immediately consult flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem
to those who were apostles before me; rather, I went into Arabia and
then returned to Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to
Jerusalem to confer with Kephas and remained with him for fifteen
days. 19 But I did not see any other of the apostles, only James the
brother of the Lord.
A simple outline!

14. Textual Context of Gal 1,11-19
Outline of Galatians by NAB
I. Address (1,1-5)
II. Loyalty to the Gospel (1,6-10)
III. Paul’s Defense of His Gospel and His Authority (1,11
—2,21)
IV. Faith and Liberty (3,1—4,31)
V. Exhortation to Christian Living (5,1—6,10)
VI. Conclusion (6,11-18)

16. 2nd
reading: Galatians 1,11-19
The Gospel preached
 11 Now I want you to know, brothers, that
the gospel preached by me is not of human
origin. 12 For I did not receive it from a
human being, nor was I taught it, but it
came through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
Paul’s former way of life
 13 For you heard of my former way of life in
Judaism, how I persecuted the church of
God beyond measure and tried to destroy it,
14 and progressed in Judaism beyond many
of my contemporaries among my race, since
I was even more a zealot for my ancestral
traditions.
Paul’s new way of life
 15 But when (God), who from my mother's
womb had set me apart and called me
through his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal
his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him
to the Gentiles, I did not immediately
consult flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up
to Jerusalem to those who were apostles
before me; rather, I went into Arabia and
then returned to Damascus. 18 Then after
three years I went up to Jerusalem to confer
with Kephas and remained with him for
fifteen days. 19 But I did not see any other
of the apostles, only James the brother of
the Lord.
Commentary
 In vv.11-12, Paul reiterates that
the gospel he had preached does
not come from humans, but from
Jesus Christ (revelation from him).
 In vv.13-14, Paul recounts how he
persecuted the church and how he
progressed in his former religion.
 In vv.15-16, Paul believes he had
been called by God even in his
mother’s womb and to reveal his
Son to him.
 The purpose is: that he may
proclaim Christ to the Gentiles.
 In vv.16b-17, Paul claims he did
not consult anyone (either Christian
converts or the apostles in
Jerusalem).
 In v.18, Paul did it only after 3
years. He talked to Kephas (Peter)
for 15 days.
 In v.19, among the apostles,
beside Peter, he saw James only.

17. Reflections on the 2nd
reading
 In our mission as Christians, our credentials can be
questioned.
 People will ask about our past experience and maybe
where we got our knowledge.
 We may not be able to answer like Paul who said firmly
that the gospel he brought was revealed to him by God
and that later he consulted some of the apostles.
 We may humbly say to the curious: I attend ongoing
formation in the church. I listen to my pastor and the
bishop. I always participate in the Bible Studies. I
attended catechism when I was young. I still study my
faith. I read spiritual books. I have internalized what I
learned from them and now I am echoing the learnings
to you.
 In this Year of Faith, we are asked to transmit the gift
of Christian faith to others, through our faith story.

18. Gospel Reading: Luke 7,11-17
11 Soon afterward he journeyed to a city called
Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd
accompanied him. 12 As he drew near to the gate of
the city, a man who had died was being carried out,
the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. A
large crowd from the city was with her. 13 When
the Lord saw her, he was moved with pity for her
and said to her, "Do not weep.“ 14 He stepped
forward and touched the coffin; at this the bearers
halted, and he said, "Young man, I tell you, arise!“
15 The dead man sat up and began to speak, and
Jesus gave him to his mother. 16 Fear seized them
all, and they glorified God, exclaiming, "A great
prophet has arisen in our midst," and "God has
visited his people.“ 17 This report about him spread
through the whole of Judea and in all the
surrounding region.
The focus is on the raising of the son of a widow.

19. Gospel Reading: Luke 7,11-17
Setting
11 Soon afterward he journeyed to a city called Nain, and his
disciples and a large crowd accompanied him. 12 As he
drew near to the gate of the city, a man who had died was
being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was
a widow. A large crowd from the city was with her.
Jesus raises a dead man
13 When the Lord saw her, he was moved with pity for her
and said to her, "Do not weep.“ 14 He stepped forward
and touched the coffin; at this the bearers halted, and he
said, "Young man, I tell you, arise!“ 15 The dead man sat
up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.
Reaction of the people
16 Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, exclaiming,
"A great prophet has arisen in our midst," and "God has
visited his people.“ 17 This report about him spread
through the whole of Judea and in all the surrounding
region.
A simple outline!

20. Textual Context of Luke 7, 11-17
3,1—9,50 PART ONE GALILEAN MINISTRY (Giblin)
3,1-38 Preaching of John (3,1-20)
And public manifestation of Jesus (3,21-38)
4,1-44 Jesus’ initial movement in the power of the Spirit
Messianic temptations met (4,1-13)
Initial prophetic ministry (4,14-44)
Galilee (Nazareth: Capernaum); Judea.
5,1-7—7,50 Call of disciples in the context of a prophetic ministry of preaching, healing
and forgiveness:
5,1-11 -- Missionary call of Simon Peter
5,12-16 Curing of a leper (as testimony to priests)
5,17-26 Healing and forgiving a paralytic (as testimony to Pharisees)
5,27-39 -- Call of Levi and dinner in his house
6,1-5 Sabbath defense of disciples
6,6-11 Sabbath cure of man with withered hand
6,12-49 -- Choice of Twelve
Sermon of the plain (to disciples in the hearing of the crowd)
7,1-10 Cure of centurion’s slave
7,11-17 Raising of widow’s son
7,18-35 Words to John’s disciples and then to crowds on prophetic ministry
7,36-50 Forgiveness of the woman at the dinner in the house of Simon the Pharisee

22. Gospel Reading: Luke 7,11-17
Setting
11 Soon afterward he
journeyed to a city called
Nain, and his disciples and a
large crowd accompanied
him. 12 As he drew near to
the gate of the city, a man
who had died was being
carried out, the only son of
his mother, and she was a
widow. A large crowd from
the city was with her.
Jesus raises a dead man
13 When the Lord saw her, he
was moved with pity for her
and said to her, "Do not
weep.“ 14 He stepped
forward and touched the
coffin; at this the bearers
halted, and he said, "Young
man, I tell you, arise!“ 15
The dead man sat up and
began to speak, and Jesus
gave him to his mother.
Commentary
 After curing a centurion’s slave,
Jesus raises a widow’s son.
 In v.11, Jesus goes to Nain with
his disciples. A large crowd follows
him.
 In v.12, at the city gate, people
carry a dead man, only son of a
widow. A large crowd also follows
her. Imagine the two crowds
merging.
 In v.13, at the sight of her, Jesus
is moved to compassion and
volunteered to do something. He
notices her in the midst of the 2
large crowds.
 In v.14, after stepping forward and
touching the casket, he commands
the dead man to rise.
 In v.15, the dead man rises, sits
up and speaks. Jesus gives him to
his mother. (Remember the 1st
reading.)

23. Gospel Reading: Luke 7,11-17
Reaction of the people
16 Fear seized them all, and
they glorified God,
exclaiming, "A great prophet
has arisen in our midst," and
"God has visited his people.“
17 This report about him
spread through the whole of
Judea and in all the
surrounding region.
 V.16 describes the immediate
reaction of the people.
 Fear seized them all
 They glorified God.
 They saw him as a great
prophet.
 They saw God visiting his
people.
 Rightly, the people interpret
the whole event.
 V.17 adds that the story
spreads in Judea and its
surrounding region.
 Remember the miracle
happens in Galilee.

24. Reflections on the Gospel reading
 Jesus is compassionate. He looks after the needs of
the sorrowing poor widow.
 His compassion is translated into action. He restores
the dead back to life, giving hope for a better life.
 We may not be able to duplicate what Jesus did, but
we can develop a compassion that is coupled with
action.
 We too can make people glorify God when they see us
making people or things work again and become useful
again.
 In this Year of Faith, let us show the power of our
faith. So many people and crowds are observing us.

25. Tying the 3 readings and the Psalm
 The first reading is about the rising of the
dead child of a widow.
 The psalm is acknowledging God for saving
the psalmist from death.
 The second reading is about the journey of
faith of Paul, how he rises from the old faith
(in Moses) to new faith (in Christ).
 The gospel reading is about the rising of the
only son of a widow.

26. How to develop your homily / sharing
 It is certainly impossible to imitate Christ
in terms of making the dead rise.
 What we should develop is the theme of
compassion.
 We should develop compassion for people
who are really in need.

27.  The widows in those times were considered
poor. Women were not allowed to make a
living. They had to take of their children.
 In the gospel, it was painful for the widow
in Nain for his only son to die. It was a big
blow to her. It was so devastating.
 It could be interpreted as a failure of her
own motherhood or simply a misfortune.

28.  At this point, Jesus came to the
rescue.
 He was sensitive to her needs.
 Jesus had to do what he had never
done before.
 The raising of the young man had a
big impact on the people.

29.  In the first reading, Elijah showed
compassion to the widow, as she showed
compassion to him when she fed him, even
in time of famine. This was the old widow
who said, “This is the last supply we have.
I’ll just cook this, for you and my son and
then we will die.”
 Elijah revived her son, even if she was
blaming him for his death.
 He exercised compassion even if the widow
was so negative to him.
 Elijah proved to be truly a man of God.

30.  In the second reading, Paul acknowledges God’s
compassion for him.
 Though he was so violent against the spread of
Christians, Paul felt God had plans for him.
 God revealed his gospel to him and learned more
about Christ from Peter and James.
 Now, he became a staunch promoter of the faith in
Christ.
 The experience of God’s compassion for him
propelled him to work for the spread of Christianity.
 Did you ever experience God’s compassion or before
this, have you ever realized how stupid you have
been in the face of Christ?

31.  In our communities or churches, do we find
compassion?
 We should develop compassion for the less
fortunate, the unemployed, the
underemployed, the sick, those who cannot
help themselves and the victims of
injustices.
 We should develop compassion for the
abandoned children, sexually abused, and
victims of trafficking and pedophiles.

32.  Can you identify in your group who
are compassionate?
 Do they identify you as
compassionate?
 Let us think again what we are
doing with our faith.

33.  The Eucharist is a sacrament of God’s
compassion.
 In the Eucharist, Jesus comes to feed us
with his body and blood to satiate our deep
hunger and thirst for God.
 In the Eucharist, Jesus calls us to be
compassionate to others.

34. Our Context of Sin and Grace
 Uncompassionate
 Ineffectual
 Complacent
 Indifferent
 Insensitive
 Stony heart
 No soul
 No mercy
 Inhuman
 No sense of solidarity
 Compassionate
 Responds to the
needs of others
 Helps build up the
morale or self-
confidence
 Sensitive to the needs
of others
 Considerate
 Can live in a
community
 Charitable

35. Suggested Songs
 Lord, have mercy
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpRghV_Ngnc
 Lord, I know, communion
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulqjOjYZOns
 Peace Prayer of St. Francis
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJ8TGBB385c

36.  Dear sisters and brothers,

 Let us develop in ourselves
compassion for others.

 Fr. Cielo