Grief is a common human experience. The Bible does not shy away from this, as Biblical characters encounter their fair share of loss. Yet with God there is always hope for a way through. Fr Richard reflects on today’s readings from Mass.
Readings for Wednesday of week 17 of ordinary time (memorial of Ss Mary, Martha and Lazarus) can be found here.
There’s one thing that unites all human beings, of all ages, nationalities, creeds and colours, from the very richest to the poorest of the poor. And this is the experience of grief. Every person in the world has some experience of bereavement and loss, of losing someone that they love. Some, of course, will have endured more than others, and it will affect everyone in different ways. And yet, it is a common experience that unites all humanity. This means that we can identify with others going through grief, and maybe even be able to help them.
In our first reading, Jeremiah is full of grief. His pain is not actually because of the loss of a loved one, but it might as well be. “Woe is me, my mother, that you bore me”, he says. “Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed?” Many people who have gone through bereavement could identify with these words. The Gospel reading concerns the death of Lazarus, Jesus’ friend, and the response of Lazarus’ sisters, Mary and Martha. Martha’s words to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died”, can be taken two ways. She might be blaming Jesus, accusing him of taking too long to arrive. Or she might be expressing a longing for a different outcome, or a mixture of the two. Either way, those words show that Martha has trust in Jesus’ power. This is reflected in what she says later on, affirming that her brother will rise again and that Jesus is the Son of God. In the first reading it is God himself who addresses Jeremiah in his sadness. “I will restore you”, God says, “for I am with you to save you and deliver you”.
The Bible never shies away from the harsh realities of life. Characters such as Jeremiah and Martha experience the same pain and suffering as we do. God never promises that those who believe in him will have a trouble-free life. What he does promise, however, is to walk alongside us in our darkest times, and that in the end hope will always win out over despair.
Mass today is in St Paul’s at 10am and St Mary’s at 11am.
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