Lent Guide 2023Sample

Wednesday - Verbalise

Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. She saw two white-robed angels, one sitting at the head and the other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying. “Dear woman, why are you crying?” the angels asked her. “Because they have taken away my Lord,” she replied, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him. “Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?” She thought he was the gardener. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him.” “Mary!” Jesus said. She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”). “Don’t cling to me,” Jesus said, “for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “I have seen the Lord!” Then she gave them his message.

John 20:11-18

I find it interesting that Maria is asked twice: “Why are you crying?” The first time by the two angels in the grave, and the second time by Jesus himself. It’s like she needs to process how she feels and why she feels that way more than once.

One of the greatest researchers in the field of loss and grief says that we used to think we went through phases when grieving. But he says all research today indicates that that’s not the case, that everyone deals with grief in a unique way.

He says, however, that there is one thing that everyone has in common: we need a witness for our grief and pain. I have to talk about it. Someone must listen. Someone has to see it and know about it.

It’s not easy to verbalise our sadness and pain. Jesus says if I do it I will be comforted. I don’t have to be scared of going there. God is with me. Jesus says the Comforter will come to me in the darkest of nights. In the dark night of the soul, God does His greatest work in me. I don’t only find him in the victory. I don’t only find Him when things are wonderful. In fact, I find Him there when I am grieving.

With whom can I share my pain?

Who can I be there for, listen to, and embrace?

Grace:

Lord, I ask for the grace of tears, to mourn my losses.