Feast of St Monica (Luke 7:11-17)

Today, we celebrate the Feast of St Monica, a woman whose life is a powerful testimony to the strength of prayer, perseverance and love. And in the Gospel we hear today, from Luke 7:11-17, we see Jesus perform an incredible miracle, raising a young man from the dead. This passage speaks to us about hope, even in the darkest moments of life, and it also echoes the way St Monica never gave up on praying for her son, St Augustine, even when it seemed hopeless.

The Gospel story takes place in a town called Nain and we meet a widow who has just lost her only son. Now, in Jesus’ time, this was devastating. A widow had already lost her husband, and her son was her only means of support. This young man’s death would have left her isolated, vulnerable and without hope.

Jesus sees her. He sees the deep sorrow and the pain in her heart. And He is moved with compassion. He doesn’t just notice the situation from afar; He feels it. He goes up to the woman and says, “Don’t cry.”

Think about that for a moment. Jesus, God in human form, takes time to notice the pain of an individual. This tells us something important about Jesus: He cares deeply about our suffering. He doesn’t want us to face our struggles alone. He wants to step into our lives, into our pain and bring healing.

Jesus then does something extraordinary. He goes up to the coffin and says to the young man, “Young man, I say to you, arise!” Immediately, the young man sits up and begins to speak. What seems impossible, what seems like the end, becomes the beginning of a new life.

Now, on this feast of St Monica, we are reminded of another mother who experienced deep pain and heartache, but never gave up hope. Monica had a son, Augustine, who turned away from the faith and lived a life that caused her much suffering. But she didn’t give up on him. She prayed and prayed and prayed some more.

Monica’s faith was not about giving up on someone just because things seemed impossible. Instead, she trusted in God’s power to bring about change, no matter how long it took. Her persistence in prayer and her unwavering belief in God’s grace helped her son, St Augustine, eventually turn his life around and become one of the greatest saints in the Church.

So, Year 9s, what can we take from this today?

First of all, remember that Jesus sees you, just as He saw the widow and her son. He sees your struggles, your pain, your joys and your hopes. You are never unnoticed by Him.

Second, don’t give up on hope. Sometimes life feels overwhelming, especially when we face challenges with friends, family or school. But remember, Jesus has the power to bring healing, to bring hope and to bring new life, just like He did for the widow’s son. Whatever difficulties you face, keep trusting that Jesus is with you and has a plan to work in your life.

Finally, like St Monica, never underestimate the power of prayer. Monica’s persistence in praying for her son was transformative. It teaches us that prayer is not just a way to ask for things; it’s a way of placing our trust in God, knowing that He hears us and that He works in His perfect timing.  

Fr Ziggy Wloczek
College Chaplain