Do Not Weep

After Jesus had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. A centurion there had a slave whom he valued highly, and who was ill and close to death. When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him, asking him to come and heal his slave. When they came to Jesus, they appealed to him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy of having you do this for him, for he loves our people, and it is he who built our synagogue for us.” And Jesus went with them, but when he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to say to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; therefore I did not presume to come to you. But only speak the word, and let my servant be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and the slave does it.” When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, he said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.

Soon afterwards he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him. As he approached the gate of the town, a man who had died was being carried out. He was his mother’s only son, and she was a widow; and with her was a large crowd from the town. When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, “Do not weep.” Then he came forward and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, rise!” The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized all of them; and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen among us!” and “God has looked favorably on his people!” This word about him spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding country. Luke 7:1-17 

The tears come bidden or unbidden sometimes. When fears, loss and pain overwhelm, our bodies reposnd with tears. The release of tears actually provides the release we ache for despite the fact that tears don't solve anything. Yet our hearts become full with joy and loss and spill over. Tears are not a sign of weakness but a sign of being very real and very alive. We can wipe away tears, and we can hold them back, but our tears will come if we are truly alive.

Jesus tells a woman not to weep over her on. He wass not telling her not to feel the tremendous loss. He was inviting her to hold back on mourning since he was going to raise the young man and return him to his mother. The mother certainly wept for joy when the son was returned alive to her. She probably tremble with fear. God loves us so much that ur weeping and our tears are felt in the heart of the Divine. We can offer our tears as our prayers for healing and change.

Today I ask God to help me live and love fully. May we embrace the hearts God have given us and may er be move with compassion and tenderness for those who are living with loss, pain and fear.