Scripture: John 11:32-35
When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus began to weep.
Thought for the Day: For many reasons, we tend to think more often of Jesus in terms of his divinity, and only reflect on his humanity at his birth and his death. But at the news of his friend’s (Lazarus) death, Jesus begins to weep. Being the shortest verse in all of scripture, it can so easily be overlooked, yet it reveals an individual who is moved by the death of a friend and the grief of others. Let us be mindful that Jesus not only wept, but since Jesus is the visible expression of the invisible God, so does God. In the recent tragedy, and others like it, God has been moved by loss of life and the devastating grief felt in its aftermath. Theologians often described God as the immovable mover, but I see God as One who is moved. God made the decision to be in relationship with humanity, and a relationship assumes that we are impacted by what happens in the lives of others. Clearly, God is moved deeply by what happens to us!
Prayer: Merciful God, thank you for doing more than noticing us, for you are the One who feels our hurts and responds with a love that is filled with hope and peace. Amen.
