“And Jesus wept.”

Pondering how our Lord entered into Martha and Mary’s suffering, during the death of their brother Lazarus, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died”, allowing us to realize how much more we suffer without Him.

We should never be afraid to enter into others suffering. Nor should we ever be to proud to share our suffering with others.

When we share in others, it is then we become an answer to their prayer. A shoulder to cry on. A warm hug in the raging storm of another. An ear to just listen. Another to pray with. Sometimes, its all a soul needs to be embraced by the love of our Lord, to help them out of the isolation of despair they can easily fall into.

When we are overcome with pride, we fear sharing with others our sufferings, because we think we have to be tough. We have to be strong. We can’t be compassionate because it looks like weakness.

Its the contrary with humility and faith. Its a sure sign of the strength of our Lord, to weep with others in their pain. In their struggles. How we long for their pain and suffering to be diminished. If I could take away your pain I would. I can only share in yours and be there for you, to help you carry your cross. It is our Lord who wipes away the tears, takes away the mourning, and pain.

When I ponder this Sundays gospel of our Lord raising Lazarus from the dead, I see Him entering into our pain and suffering no matter how great it may be, and overcoming it with His Life. I see Him entering into the death of our loved ones,  giving us hope and pulling us out of the final end that death once held, which is His place. His domain. I see Him entering into our own death, and commanding death to untie us, and let us go, as it could not hold Him.

“I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord;
whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will never die.”