When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord if only you had been here my brother would not have died.” John 11:31-35, NLT.
Generally speaking, you will not find mourning at Disney Land. It is a place curated for laughter and excitement. You won’t generally find mourning at the donut shop or a wedding party or a comedy club. Yes, there will be the odd instance of someone who is inwardly mourning, but not as a rule.
You will find mourning at the intensive care unit of the hospital and at the funeral home where your loved-one lays. You’ll also find mourning standing in front of the Vietnam Memorial Wall and in Arlington Cemetery. All are places of loss, marked by irrevocable changes to life.
Jesus encountered mourning in Bethany after the death of his good friend Lazarus. Mary and Martha, sisters of Lazarus were mourning on two fronts – the first, over grief that Jesus could have come earlier and healed Lazarus, and the second because of the loss of their dearly beloved brother.
The loss experienced by Mary and Martha was relational. It was deeper and more pervasive than losing a piece of jewelry or having one’s car stolen. Jewelry and cars are replaceable losses in most cases. But losing a loved one goes down into the marrow of life.
Jesus promises comforting will come to those who mourn because they are uniquely qualified for it. Hearts softened by salty tears, Lives that have insatiable desire for comfort, for the tears to end, and for the mind to be able to rest. By toning down the “what ifs” and the “this is not fairs.” Able to adjust by what life gives by acceptance.
I can imagine Mary and Martha, after Jesus’ resurrection, sitting around reflecting on Jesus raising Lazarus and then commenting, “Now we understand what Jesus meant.” The comfort Jesus promised us comes abundantly in the cross.
Prayer:
O God, we are burdened with grief for Gaza, Ukraine, those trapped under the rule of ruthless dictators, and places like Darfur. These places look hopeless when viewed in human time, but we know that your rescue and comfort is coming as you promised. Be with those who mourn lost families, spouses, children, and friends. With those who mourn incredible cruelty and pain. In Jesus’ name. Amen.