Lets find out!
Every religions and faith groups have their own understanding of a God in whom they believe. They may vary from faith to faith and group to group. Some of us may have doubts about the nature of God in Christianity; specially the second person of the Most Holy Trinity. The word incarnated, Jesus Christ and a God who looks just like you and me. Is He a God who weeps with us or stays away from us especially in time of need? When we examine the Holy Bible, we learn that Jesus is a God who weeps with us, walks with us, laughs with us, talks with us, and even dies for us.
It is the same Jesus who wept in different times during His life on earth is the same Jesus who weeps today on behalf of me, you and the whole world. Weeping is a natural and spontaneous expression of sharing the pain and hardship of others.
There are three occasions in the Holy Bible where Jesus wept:
- Gospel according to John chapter 11:32 and the following speaks about the death of Lazarus, who was a friend of Jesus and brother of Mary and Martha. We see Jesus weeping at the tomb over the death of Lazarus a personal friend. Here we see Jesus as a God who weeps with us and for us.
- Gospel according to Luke chapter 19:41 and the following speaks about Jesus weeping over Jerusalem and the temple, foreseeing the destruction of them which was the center of the Jewish faith and tradition. Here we see Jesus weeping with us over a chosen race and a favored Nation.
- Gospel according to Luke chapter 22:39 and Mathew 26:36 and the following speak about Jesus praying to God the father for strength and courage in the garden of Gethsemane as He was deeply experiencing distress and difficulty before the passion, crucifixion and death. Here we see Jesus weeping in the garden and talking to His Father.
It is the same Jesus who wept in different times during His life on earth is the same Jesus who weeps today on behalf of me, you and the whole world. Weeping is a natural and spontaneous expression of sharing the pain and hardship of others. When someone genuinely weeps for us that is a sign that person is willing to share our hardship. Here comes Jesus to our lives everyday knowing fully well our hardships and sufferings, wanting to share them in three different levels, personal, communitarian, and global levels of our existence as God’s children.
We just finished the celebration of the Easter. Celebration of the passion, suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus is His expression of sharing our pain and misery. It is an act of weeping for me, my community and the whole world around me.
But, do I recognize Jesus in this Easter Season who comes to me personally, to my community and to my world at large; and weeping with me during this difficult time of Covid 19 pandemic? Our greatest challenge today is meeting Him and recognizing Him being with us when our own loved ones suffer and are separated from us by this deadly virus attack. Every day is a test, every day is a seek, and every day is an attempt to identify this Jesus in us and others who weeps with us.
With Prayers,
Fr Tomy Puliyan, MSFS
“Holiness and Happiness through Wellness and Wholeness”
Thank you Father Tomy. Have a Blessed day in the Lord.