Re-reading the story of Mary, Martha and Lazarus (John 11:32-44) amid my own sadness, I was struck by this fact: Jesus cried, even though he knew he would resurrect Lazarus five minutes later. Equally remarkable? Jesus did not fill the air with cliches about why Mary and Martha and everyone should stop being sad because “it was part of God’s plan” and “God had taken Lazarus home.”
I noticed that Jesus did not instruct Mary to be ashamed of her tears. He did not tell her that her grief signaled a lack of hope and trust in God. Instead, Jesus cried with her, and was “greatly disturbed…and deeply moved” (John 11:33).
I find so much comfort and instruction in this short story. Here Jesus shows us what authentic faith looks like in the real world. He did not choose between grief and hope, nor did he force anyone else to. Jesus, in other words, shows us that grief and hope can co-exist in faithful hearts not as an either/an, but as a both/and.
This message is excerpted from “Meeting God in grief & hope” by Jacqueline Bussie in the November 2016 Gather magazine. Today is the 24th Sunday after Pentecost. Today is All Saints Sunday.
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