During these past few months, my family and I have lost precious loved ones. There was My first cousin, who died less than six months after her own husband died. About a month ago, the wife of my own sister’s son died. Just like that. A close friend of mine lost his wife, and he suffered agony for months after. Then my most beloved boss the Chairman of the PHINMA Group who gave me the big breaks in my career died just last October. But most painful of all was when my beloved mother passed away just last September. It is very painful to see someone lose their loved one. It’s the worst, when it is your own loss.
The incident in Luke 19:41-44 when Jesus sees the city of Jerusalem from a distance and cries over it, gives us a glimpse of how Jesus Himself experienced personal grief.
In fact there are several occasions in the gospel where Jesus displayed genuine sadness. Imagine, this powerful man who would calm the storm, walk on water, and whose mission was to bring good news of joy to people felt and experienced the pain of loss, of disappointment, sadness and dread.
It is such a consolation knowing that Jesus felt the exact same extreme pains we all feel from time to time, and on a day to day basis.
In John 11:33, when Jesus stood at the tomb of His friend Lazarus, he shed tears and cried. But I think He grieved not so much because his good friend Lazarus died … after all, He knew He was about to raise Lazarus from the dead. But I think Jesus grieved and He cried, because He saw how much pain the death of Lazarus meant to Mary and Martha. Just like when we feel sad and we are moved when we see our friends grieving over their dead loved ones. We feel their pain, and we ourselves cry. You and I can be sure that whenever we’re grieving the loss of our loved ones, Jesus feels our pain and He cries with us.
And then there was that moment that we read in today’s gospel from Luke 19:41-44, when Jesus looked over Jerusalem and began to cry. Jesus knew that this would be his last journey to Jerusalem, because He would soon be crucified. But His sorrow was not because of this. He was saddened not because His mission “failed”, but because of the hardness of heart of the people there. They thought they were in good standing with Yahweh, and refused His offer, because they were waiting for a political Messiah, and so they were doomed. Not only would the city be torn to ruins, but they would all suffer the consequence of eternal damnation.
This reminds me of the worsening situation in the Philippines today, when those in power do nothing about injustice, neglect of the poor, degradation of the environment, and massive corruption. It is so bad, that it seems we are doomed to self-destruction.
But I find consolation in this passage knowing that Jesus Himself knows the grief that concerned Filipino citizens feel. And images of the good shepherd, the good Samaritan, and the Yahweh of the Exodus come to mind, knowing that we have a compassionate and powerful Protector who feels the pain that we feel and is saddened, but who promises victory to the righteous and faithful. Though He is saddened that punishment must be exacted, His compassion and justice come from a heart that loves.
And then, there’s Gethsemane — that dark night when Jesus fell to the ground and cried out, “Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me.” He cried because of what He would happily lose in obedience to His father. How often do we feel pain when we deny ourselves something that we desire or deserve, but we sacrifice it for the good of another, and for the honor of God’s name: a dream, a plan, a comfortable life, an opinion we hold dearly. Jesus understands the tears that accompany our sacrifice. He knows what it’s like to obey God through tears.
Maybe today you’re grieving — for a loss, for a loved one, or for something in your life that hasn’t turned out the way you hoped, or that you have to give up for the good for someone else. Do not rush to hide or to wipe away your tears. Let your tears become your prayer. In that sense, it’s good to grieve. Let Jesus dry your eyes, and remind you that He gets where you’re coming from, and He feels your pain as if it was His pain. And I pray that this realization of the truth about the love of Jesus will redeem your pain, will turn your morning into meaning, sorrow into strength, and pain into compassion.
And someday, as the Book of Revelation promises, He will wipe away every tear from our eyes. Until then, remember this: You can trust your sorrow to the One who knows what it means to cry.
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