Compassion

For those who do not already know, I was a mental health therapist for quite a few years. In fact, I still supervise therapy interns who are either recently graduated from school or are still in school to learn to be therapists. I remember one of the first things I was confronted with was what to do with a client who was crying in my office. Crying made me feel uncomfortable. It wasn’t that the client was doing anything wrong, of course. I knew that when discussing one’s private life, crying was often a natural and healthy response. I just did not know how to “fix” it.

          In today’s reading, there is a lot of crying going on. Lazarus, the brother of Martha and Mary, passed away four days ago while Jesus was away. When Jesus appears at the grave of Lazarus, Mary tells him that if he had been there, Lazarus would not have died. The Jews who were there piled on and claimed that the man who gave sight to the blind should have been able to save Lazarus. Not exactly a hero’s welcome, is it?

          However, there is something else going on here and not just here but in all the readings – tears. In Isaiah, we are told that “...the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces”.  In Revelation, we are told by John that God “...will wipe away every tear from our eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more”.

          Today’s Gospel reading also speaks of tears but in a very different way. Not only are Martha, Mary, the Jews and followers all crying but Jesus is crying as well. We can only presume that this place where Jesus arrived is a place where the people there had been crying for the last four days because of Lazarus’ death. In this moment, Jesus is showing both his humanity and his grief but his empathy and compassion for everyone who is grieving as well. I think that makes this one of the most powerful stories in scripture.

          There are many reasons for Jesus to cry at the death of Lazarus. This was his friend and a man who was the brother of both Mary and Martha. However, Jesus only weeps briefly because his task is at hand – to resurrect Lazarus from the grave. This is the culmination of everything John has written up to this moment and possibly the greatest of Jesus’ miracles.  It is such an event that in the next chapter of John, the religious leaders plot to kill Lazarus out of spite for Jesus.

There is an ancient tradition in Christianity which states that when Jesus brought Lazarus back from the grave, Lazarus never smiled again. Perhaps some of those tears that Jesus shed were knowing that Lazarus was returning to a sinful and broken world.

          I am focusing today’s sermon on crying and tears because they are often the result of three emotions – grief, happiness and compassion. Interestingly, these three emotions are reflected in the Sermon on the Mount. Poor in spirit, mourning, those who are meek, those who hunger for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, the peacemakers and those who are persecuted can all be tied to these three emotions.

          In today’s reading, Jesus is exhibiting two of these three emotions. He feels grief from the death of the beloved Lazarus but he also feels compassion – both for Lazarus and the grief that others are feeling by his death. These tears of compassion are what I want to discuss this morning.

          As we reach the end of another election, there are few examples of compassion in the political discourse. Indeed, as we examine this further and with all the recriminations and finger-pointing that has been political discourse this political season, the thought of compassion can seem distant or even quaint, but it shouldn’t be. There are fellow citizens who are homeless who need to be housed, those with mental illness who need treatment, those who struggle every month just to have a roof over their heads and food on the table and men and women who have served this country who now need our country to step up and help them. It is enough to make you cry.

          For these reasons and many others, compassion is not a quaint idea but in a fallen world, it is a revolutionary act. Compassion is not a noun. It is a verb. Compassion compels us to connect with others. To relate to what others are feeling and to do what we can to help those in need. In fact, you could say that the ministry of Jesus is based on the virtue of compassion.

          So, what can we do to emulate Jesus in the form of compassion? I would suggest that you do as Jesus did and look for a neighbor in need. Go to them and listen to their story. Offer to pray with them and help them in any way you can. You can help us on Saturday morning as we offer many services to our guests but more importantly, offer compassionate care to them, so they know they are God’s children. Compassion doesn’t cost a thing, but it is priceless to the person who receives it. Who knows? On your way home, you might even shed tears of joy and happiness yourselves. Amen.