Lament and Mourning
Laugh with those who laugh, mourn with those who mourn
//Romans 12:15
Compassion constitutes a radical form of criticism, for it announces that the hurt is to be taken seriously, that they hurt is not to be accepted as normal and natural but is an abnormal and unacceptable condition for humanness.
// Walter Bruegemann, Theologian
When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, Saying, "If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes. //Luke 19:41-42
"Jesus understands grief as the ultimate criticism that had to be addressed against Jerusalem. Without it there is no newness."
// Walter Brueggemann, Theologian
"When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled, and said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to Him, "Lord, come and see." Jesus wept.
//John 11:33-35
"The riddle and insight of Biblical faith is the awareness that only anguish leads to life, only grieving leads to joy, and only embraced endings permit new beginnings. “Jesus wept.” I understand the depth of that verse. Jesus knew what we numb ones must always learn again: that weeping must be real because endings are real; and that weeping permits newness. His weeping permits the kingdom to come. Such weeping is a radical criticism, a dismantling because it means the end of all machoism; weeping is something kings rarely do without losing their thrones. Yet the loss of thrones is precisely what is called for."
// Walter Brueggemann, Theologian
And He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.
//Revelation 21:4
Man in Black – Johnny Cash
Well, you wonder why I always dress in black,
Why you never see bright colors on my back,
And why does my appearance seem to have a somber tone.
Well, there's a reason for the things that I have on.
I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down,
Livin' in the hopeless, hungry side of town,
I wear it for the prisoner who has long paid for his crime,
But is there because he's a victim of the times.
I wear the black for those who never read,
Or listened to the words that Jesus said,
About the road to happiness through love and charity,
Why, you'd think He's talking straight to you and me.
Well, we're doin' mighty fine, I do suppose,
In our streak of lightnin' cars and fancy clothes,
But just so we're reminded of the ones who are held back,
Up front there ought 'a be a Man In Black.
I wear it for the sick and lonely old,
For the reckless ones whose bad trip left them cold,
I wear the black in mournin' for the lives that could have been,
Each week we lose a hundred fine young men.
And, I wear it for the thousands who have died,
Believen' that the Lord was on their side,
I wear it for another hundred thousand who have died,
Believen' that we all were on their side.
Well, there's things that never will be right I know,
And things need changin' everywhere you go,
But 'til we start to make a move to make a few things right,
You'll never see me wear a suit of white.
Ah, I'd love to wear a rainbow every day,
And tell the world that everything's OK,
But I'll try to carry off a little darkness on my back,
'Till things are brighter, I'm the Man In Black.
