First Day of Lent (Ash Wednesday) - Grief

 

Grief by Pieter Van Laer 1368

11  Racked with grief, Mary stood by the mortuary door. As she wept, she peered into the gloom 12 and saw two attendants in white, seated at a table.  13 They asked her, “Lady, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my dear friend away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was him.

15 He asked her, “Lady, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was another attendant, she said, “Sir, if you know where the body has been put, tell me and I will go to him.”

16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

Everything changes when a loved one dies.  We are kicked sideways.  Things remain familiar, but also distorted.  It is as if we have entered a parallel universe.   Grief is essential.  Mary cannot be spared the pain.  Life is not real without these experiences.  But Jesus is not dead.  He is alive.  Grief and joy mix.  Everything has a beginning, middle and end.  
This is the same for us.  We feel the grief deep within us.  It is like a coldness in the bones; an uncontrollable shaking; a deep pain that feels it will never end.  The reality of grief must be experienced, just like other appropriate emotions.  

Cry out.  Scream, wail.  It will be for a time, and will end.  Then we hear the masters voice calling our name. 
Prayer:  You have allowed this feeling deep within me and I embrace it.  I listen to hear your voice.