God is perfect. And he weeps.

Today's gospel we hear about Lazarus being raised from the dead.  Important of course, but I would like to focus on something we might not have heard this weekend. in Homilies, but something everyone I have met struggles with.  

  

Star wars.  Lord of the Rings.  Mission Impossible.  What do they have in common? Other than being MAJOR blockbuster movies (trilogies, actually) they have one major theme in common: Good vs. Evil.  White vs. Black. Dark Vs. Light.  This makes everything very simple and clear cut.  It either is one thing or the other.  While this makes complex plot lines fairly easy to follow, there is something that is missing: REALITY.  Think about it.... How many things in life are 100% good or 100% evil? I can't think of one. Not one.  Pretty Roses have thorns.  Cuddley kitties have razor sharp claws,  Tastey Twinkies are still the worst things to put in your body.  

This idea of black and white is a very westernized way of thinking.  I won't bore you with a history lesson, but know that most eastern religions believe in the yin and yang.  I'm sure you've heard of this.  It's the idea that you need one to appreciate the other.  There needs to be a balance.  

What does this have to do with Lazarus?

The biggest question posed to me as a teacher, believer, whatever, is always "If there is a god, how does he let his people suffer?"  The answer is: he doesn't.  People do not suffer by God's hand.  There is this thing called "free will" he gave us, so that we are not just following him like lemmings, he gave us a choice to do "good", "bad", whatever.  So suffering is the reaction to someone else's action, and how you interpret it is what it is.  But who is really to say what is good or bad?  I am not saying World hunger and War is not horrible, I am merely saying that it is not on God.  Going back to my previous statement about god, the character Jamie Sullivan in "A Walk to Remember" says, "Without suffering, we cannot know compassion." We need the thorns to appreciate the rose.  And while the catholics try and portray God as a loving god (which he is), let's not forget about his wrath also.  God is the Alpha and Omega.  The beginning AND the end.... the Creator AND destroyer.  Yin... and yang... Clear?

Secondly, going Back to the story of Lazarus: we read today that Jesus does not make it in time to heal his friend, and he dies.  Jesus, literally, brings him back to life.  But before that, he weeps.  

WHAT? 

God.  He cries.  and it is not just a single tear.  Weeping is to express grief, emotion, or distress by exuding tears.  EXUDING! Streams and ponds, here, people! What do we think of that!

God = perfect.  God also cries... nay, god weeps.  This to me says its ok to feel.  Its ok to cry.  I know I know, I above all people think this is a forgein concept.  BUT.  there it is, In print, clear as black and white... Jesus Wept.  God Wept.  So he brought his friend back.  

It's ok to feel.  God Shows us that.  What is it that ur feeling?