St. Paul continues the theme of last Sunday (Epistle) and admonishes us to live and walk in the “Spirit,” cautioning us that those who live in the flesh shall reap “corruption” whereas those who reap in the spirit shall reap “life everlasting.”
He entreats us as Christians to be charitable to all men, particularly other members of the Faith. As is always the case, the Church wisely cheers us in the Gradual and Alleluia as our thoughts turn to praising the Name of God who is a “great King” Who will never abandon us.
The Gospel relates how Jesus raised a widow’s son at Naim from the dead, and we realize that we go to Mass to help raise ourselves from the spiritually dead as Christ Himself comes to raise us.
The Collect is a petition for the gift of life for the children of Christ’s Church. Thus, with joy we pray the Offertory confident that the Lord has heard our prayer for life. Strengthened by the Sacraments, we are able to protect our spiritual life from the devil. (Secret), particularly with the reception of the Holy Eucharist (Communion) by Christ’s possession of our “minds and bodies.”