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Today's Gospel is John 20:11-18. Mary Magdalene is 'weeping' when the risen Christ meets her at the tomb; he asks 'why are you weeping?'. It all sounds very placid and mournful.
But she is κλαίουσα - this is the word for wailing and lamenting, for great howls of grief.
But she is κλαίουσα - this is the word for wailing and lamenting, for great howls of grief.
κλαίουσα is what the women of Troy do in the Iliad as they look on the battle scene. It's what Penelope spends years doing in sorrow for her husband Odysseus, whom she believes to be dead. Wailing and weaving. It's how you mourn a great loss.
The only other person in John's Gospel who κλαίει is Mary of Bethany, mourning her brother Lazarus' death (11:33).
Interestingly, that famous verse 'Jesus wept' (11:35) is the much more sedate δακρύω. Jesus doesn't κλαίω in John.
Interestingly, that famous verse 'Jesus wept' (11:35) is the much more sedate δακρύω. Jesus doesn't κλαίω in John.
Perhaps because κλαίω is what you do for the dead, and Jesus knows that he is about to raise Lazarus from the dead.
One more Johannine κλαίω: 16:20 'you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice. You will lament, but your lamentation will turn to rejoicing.'
How true that is of Mary of Bethany and Mary Magdalene. Their pain is real; their κλαίουσα is a great wail for the beloved dead.
How true that is of Mary of Bethany and Mary Magdalene. Their pain is real; their κλαίουσα is a great wail for the beloved dead.
But the Resurrection brings joy, and that joy is God's answer to grief.
Their grief is no less real and no less painful. It's perhaps more so; the Resurrection only makes sense if Jesus (and Lazarus) died a very real, painful death. And how much greater the resulting joy.
Their grief is no less real and no less painful. It's perhaps more so; the Resurrection only makes sense if Jesus (and Lazarus) died a very real, painful death. And how much greater the resulting joy.
I keep thinking about 'those who sow in tears/ shall reap with joy (Ps. 126:5). I'm hoping it's true for us now. I'm trusting that it is, even though it's difficult to believe.
But I take comfort that we are united with Mary Magdalene and Mary of Bethany in our grief-
But I take comfort that we are united with Mary Magdalene and Mary of Bethany in our grief-
even though, of course, we know how it ends.
It’s hard to feel very much resurrection joy this Easter. I think it will come with time. We’re grieving now, but we will rejoice. And wherever we are in grief, Christ is with us, always, even unto the end of the world.
It’s hard to feel very much resurrection joy this Easter. I think it will come with time. We’re grieving now, but we will rejoice. And wherever we are in grief, Christ is with us, always, even unto the end of the world.
I don’t really know where I was going with this other than to say - it’s okay to be sad. Look at these biblical women and friends of the Lord who felt and expressed enormous pain at loss. Grief is natural, biblical, healthy, holy. Let us grieve, but let us also pray. /end
