The epistle gives instruction on an important part of our Christian life: fraternal correction. Christ calls us to this so we might join him in his work of recreating. Cain, motivated by envy, murdered his brother Abel, asking, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” It is important then, that St. Paul admonishes us: live in the Spirit, do not be conceited, provoking one another out of envy. Correction should be done with gentleness of spirit and compassion, for it could very well be us in need of correction but for the grace of God. This, too, is why we must bear each other’s burdens, because soon we will need this same help. In all things we must never tire of doing good, for we reap what we sow.
The widow of Nain helps us to understand what this looks like. St. Ambrose comments that the widow is the Church, weeping over the Gentile people, who Christ restores to life. But there is more. Sin destroys us. Much more dangerous than bodily death is spiritual death. We see also in this Gospel confession. Our mother weeps for us, dead from sin, and presents us to Christ, who by his word brings us back to life.
And so we see several things. We bear burdens by imitating the Church: through tears, prayer, and trying to bring our brothers and sisters to Christ so he can heal them. The only joy we should find in this is when our brothers and sisters are restored to life. We reap what we sow, so let us not sow seeds of self-importance, pride, envy, and the like. Let us instead sow seeds of repentance and love of God, let us tend the soil with our prayers and water it with our tears. This will bring about a joyful harvest for Christ, giving praise and honor to him by restoring his children to his kingdom.