Jesus weeps!
In C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia, the young boy Digory is heartbroken by the realization that his mother is dying, and that he can do nothing to save her. He raises his despairing face to the story's Christ-figure, the great lion, Aslan; and is startled to see the great shining tears in Aslan's eyes. "They were such big, bright tears compared with Digory's own, that for a moment he felt as if the Lion must be sorrier about his mother than he was himself." "My son, my son," says Aslan. "I know grief is great. Only you and I in this land know that yet. So let us be good to one another and take care of one another." Wherever people grieve, Jesus weeps. Wherever children suffer, Jesus weeps. Wherever lives are torn apart, and hearts are empty, and hope dies, Jesus weeps.
This Good Friday: in Venezuela millions are suffering hunger, poverty, human rights abuse and loss of freedom. Jesus weeps! In Paris, France and around the world, there is sadness at the fire damage to the radiant beauty of the Cathedral of Notre Dame. Jesus weeps! In the United States, the suicide rate among the young, deaths from drug overdose and severe depression reach all-time highs. Jesus Weeps!
Still there is hope. The Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, in the darkest hour of history, offered every child of God a unique hope. This Good Friday, let us not lose hope but trust in the Cross of the Lord. Let us also reach out in loving compassion to our neighbors and share this hope. Jesus Weeps! The Cross brings hope! Even amid the damages to the Cathedral, a shining cross remained bravely standing in the midst of the debris. Notre Dame will rise again from the ashes and be a beautiful sign of hope for all the world. Easter is coming!
