“See, the throne of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God, they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them, he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away” (Revelation 21:3b–4 nrsv)

Lent is the season of darkness; it is a time when we contemplate death, our own death, death that surrounds us, and the death of Jesus Christ. Death, mourning, crying, and pain are all part of the human condition. This world is filled with sorrows that we do not understand. I weep at the death of a child killed in a school bus accident and wonder how her parents and sisters can possibly move forward. I send a note to a neighbor whose teenage child has committed suicide and wonder if they will ever recover from the pain. I see the sorrow in an uncle as he buries a brother who was his friend and companion after the death of each of their wives, and I wonder how he will deal with this new grief.

In each of these situations I take my own grief to Christ, who I know walked this earth, who I know experienced death, mourning, crying and pain just like each of us do. In each of these situations I take my own grief to the Holy Spirit, who I know dwells among us. In each of these situations I take my own grief to God the Father who promises he will wipe every tear from our eyes.

I do not understand the pain and suffering of this world but I put my trust in Christ and the promise of a time when death, mourning, crying and pain will be no more.

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord.”

Contributed by Debra
Monday February 27, 2012
Liturgical Year B: Week 14
Liturgical Color: Purple
Sunday Gospel reading:
First Sunday in Lent