Day 8

"When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, 'Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.' When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 
'Where have you laid him?' he asked.
'Come and see, Lord,' they replied.
Jesus wept."

John 11:32-35

I think that last verse is one of the most powerful in the entire Bible. It contains so much feeling, so much meaning, and yet we frequently ignore this passage in our biblical studies. This is just a few verses after Jesus, in his knowledge of the proper time and season, waits two extra days before going to visit his sick friend. Jesus knows that he will raise Lazarus from the dead, knows that the mourners will have no cause for mourning in mere minutes. Yet he cries. Weeps. I think it's safe to assume that Jesus is weeping more for his friends who have had to mourn their brother for four days than for his dead friend. Lazarus is going to be fine--but nothing can take away the pain and sadness Martha and Mary have had to endure.

Jesus exhibits something much greater than sympathy: he literally feels the pain and heartache his friends and followers feel. As a Christ-follower, I think it's very important that I empathize with God's people. Today, instead of just ignoring when people bother me, or nodding sympathetically when someone has a problem, I tried to truly recognize their feelings. When someone cut me off on the road, I remembered times when I've cut others off--when I've been distracted, in a hurry, or upset. Instead of getting angry, I realized that this person could be in pain, and unaware of his/her surroundings.

A great parishoner from my home church underwent surgery for cancer today. Not only did I practice praying without ceasing for him throughout the day, but I tried my best to empathize with him and his wife during this trying day. The pain and sadness that exists in the world truly does make me sad, and I feel closer to Christ when I realize how messed up the world is. Next step: fixing that messed up-ness.