“And Jesus wept.” – John 11:35

When I first arrived at our Catholic cemeteries, I thought I understood what tears meant. Like many of us, I believed they were simply an expression of sadness or joy. I never took the time to reflect on what it meant when a stranger shared their tears with you.

People shed tears for many reasons: in response to difficult news, the loss of a loved one, life’s hardships, or even moments of overwhelming joy. Even a movie can make us cry! They reflect the breadth of our emotions and in those moments can only be expressed through tears.

A great deal of my time at Catholic cemeteries has been spent talking to grieving families, and through these experiences, I have learned the true meaning of their tears. It is a rare privilege to accept the gift of a stranger’s tears when they are seeking comfort in a moment of despair. Death is one of life’s greatest mysteries, and the emotional rollercoaster ride it sends you on can be terrifying.

My very first experience with this kind of emotion came nearly 25 years ago, and I reflect on it often.

The call was from a mother whose 16-year-old daughter died tragically after a simple procedure. I do not recall why she called, but I remember talking to her about her daughter and her sons. The story was tragic, and her devastation has impacted me to this day. After her call, I told God that I could not do this job, and I yelled at Him that I did not ask for this. The emotional roller-coaster ride this mom took me on was intense and nearly broke me, but God showed me that taking on her pain was why He needed me. A decade later, she sent me a beautiful card.

That experience reminds me that God has entrusted me with the tears of those grieving the loss of a loved one. He grants me the privilege of taking on the burden of their grief and sharing their tears with them. I recognize that the only way to help someone suffering such excruciating pain is to take on some of it yourself. Their suffering must become yours too, and as you give part of your heart, you may offer them a little bit of peace.

It is in those moments that we are given an opportunity to be Christlike. Our humanity is completely visible in moments of emotional vulnerability.

Do you ever reflect on the time when Christ wept? Despite knowing that through the Father, He had power over death, He still wept. There are several interpretations of why Christ wept, but for me, it is simple: He experienced a very human emotion, and in that moment, all He could do was weep. His tears brought Jesus that much closer to us. His humanity is evidence of the greatness of our God and His desire to understand us, His children.

May God bless each of you as we celebrate Easter. And the next time you see a stranger shedding a tear, don’t walk away; give them that peace that comes from the sharing of this precious human emotion.

Andrej N. Lah