Not Here Anymore

The story is told of a bullish stock market investor who said to himself: “I would do anything, even the devil’s work, if only I could see the stock market listings a month ahead of time. I could become the richest man in the world!” Well, he got his wish. A messenger came to his door and handed him a newspaper dated one month ahead. Quickly, the man turned to the business section and he was in ecstasy. There before him were all the stock market prices, one month in advance. But, as he picked up the phone to begin his orgy of buying and selling in order to become the richest man in the world in thirty days, he saw the newspaper’s obituary column. His name was there!

In today’s Gospel Lesson, a young man has died and is being carried out of the city by a large procession of mourners to the place of burial. At the same time, Jesus and His…