Pearls of sorrow, joy

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Francis Gonsalves [1]

Which is the Bible’s shortest sentence? Its longest psalm? Interestingly, the Bible’s shortest sentence (John 11:35) and its longest psalm (119) have one commonality: tears! The two-word sentence “Jesus wept” and the lengthiest 176-verse psalm reading: “My eyes shed streams of tears” (v.126) make me wonder: aren’t tears God-gifted?
Greek philosophy saw God as “The Unmoved Mover” who moves everything while being immovable. While one might associate joy and anger with God, weeping is surely unbecoming of Almighty God. Against this “high” Greek conception of deity, it would seem stupid and shameful for early Christians to even suggest that Jesus wept. Yet, they did.

Gospel-writer John, perhaps, purposefully mentions Jesus weeping because he sees this as significant. What else do you do when your friend dies? Lazarus’ sisters meet Jesus with tears burning their eyes. Jesus responds as best as he can. He weeps. Tears “move” Jesus to act effectively — he raises Lazarus to life.
Tears irrigate the Bible: Esau weeps due to betrayal (Genesis 27:38), David at Absalom’s death (2 Samuel 18:33) and Peter after denying Jesus (Matthew 26:75). Biblical characters weep tears of joy, sorrow, success, distress and repentance. Indeed, we are pilgrims in this valle lacrymarum (vale of tears) until we reach the Beyond where, “God will wipe away every tear and mourning and weeping will be no more” (Revelation 21:4).
At the start of its second chapter, the Bhagavad Gita sums up the pathetic state of Arjuna after his despondency (vishada) in the first chapter with “ashru-purna-akula-iksana”, meaning, “his eyes distraught and filled with tears”. These are tears of compassion and uncertainty for his brethren on the wrong side of the battlefield, destined for death; of anxiety about his dharma as a warrior conflicting with his love for his kindred. Copious tears flow in the Mahabharata war, but Divine Presence ensures the victory of righteousness.
Women weep, men mustn’t! That’s a stereotype I debunked when I once cried in public.
Tears are therapeutic for body and soul. They help us cope with emotional storms.
Tears on my pillow and Cry me a river are love songs highlighting the pain of parting. But, there’s a whole spectrum of emotions that cause crying. So, when you next sense the sluice-gates of tears opening, let go. You might unleash a treasure-trove.

Francis Gonsalves can be contacted at fragons@gmail.com