Jesus consoles the women of Jerusalem
Luke 23:27-31 (RSV)
And there followed him a great multitude of the people, and of women who bewailed and lamented him. But Jesus turning to them said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.”
Again, Jesus acknowledges the women who are following him. (See 4thStation of the Cross.) He turns to them, even in hisdistress, and responds to them in theirdistress. I’m not sure what Jesus’ words are referring to in this passage and what the implications are, but I do know that he is speaking to them out of a compassionate heart.
Life was hard for these women. We don’t know many of their stories nor how Jesus had touched their lives, yet we see in these verses that they saw something in Jesus that they did not want to release. Jesus had given them something that they were holding onto. They didn’t want to see the death sentence carried out on this man who had accepted them and gave them dignity. But Jesus knew there was more suffering yet to come in their lives and the lives of their children. For life is hard. It just is. Each one of us faces struggles, tensions, and reasons to cry. Some carry more burdens than others, but each carries something. Jesus knows this and empathizes.
There’s something sacred about crying. It is a holy act. It releases that which you’ve been holding inside. It admits sadness, yet helps you to let it go and move on. It cleanses. It frees. It relieves. Heavy hearts lead to tears, yet tears lead to lighter hearts.
Listen to Jesus’ words in both Matthew and Luke, “Blessed are you who mourn, for you shall be comforted…for you shall laugh.”
And in John 16:20, “I tell you the truth, a time is approaching when you will weep and mourn while the world is celebrating. You will grieve, but that grief will give birth to great joy.”
And in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
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