Mourn: How long?

Scripture/Bible:  But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb; 12 and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him." 14 Saying this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?" Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away." 16 Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rab-bo'ni!" (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, "Do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God." 18 Mary Mag'dalene went and said to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"; and she told them that he had said these things to her. Jn 20:11-18

Reflection:  What if Jesus would not have risen from the dead then how long would Mary, not the mother of Jesus, continue to mourn for Jesus?  Depends on how much she loved the Lord.

Death of a beloved brings with it the many memories which can make us sad, depressed, hurt, angry, pained and disillusioned with life and its purpose.  Life can become an empty vacuum and there seems very little meaning for existence.

A sudden death or a painful death is still worse to overcome and come to terms with.  The very thought of seeing our loved ones in pain or having gone through a painful, violent death can send us into a tizzy. 

Mary’s woes seems similar and so too the hopes of many of his disciples. It would have been still worse if Jesus had not prepared them on this journey, even though there were bouts of unbelief.

If he had not revealed himself post resurrection then I am sure many of his disciples would have had some sort of nervous breakdown. They would have felt that they followed him with hope and had invested all their future in a man whose life has been suddenly snuffed out from their midst.

The Resurrection of Jesus brings hope in the midst of such a crisis, not only to the apostles but also to all who believe in him and his words of assurance.

Therefore, a Christian can be sad and sorrowful at the separation of a loved one but they cannot give in to despair; as if everything is lost forever and for all eternity.  Further they can overcome their many anxieties, hurts, fears, depression, sadness and whatever weighs them down with Jesus the Lord and master who has in himself overcome every enemy of death.

For this to happen one has to practically seek his help and constantly look to him.  The minimum one can do is be grateful to the Lord for his higher plans and purpose for their lives.

Blessed is the man who has been prepared by him in his transforming presence even before these tragedies have come into being in their lives.

Prayer:  Lord may I learn daily in your presence how to trust you and your ways for me.

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