Peering Beyond the Veil of Tears

All Saint’s Sunday
November 7, 2021

John 11:32-44

When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus began to weep. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”

Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upward and said, “Father, I thank you for having heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” 

When All Saints Sunday rolls around each year, we read the names of our church members who died over the previous year and we light a candle for our loved ones who have gone before us. I have to say, this past year has been one heckuva year! Some of our very faithful, active members have died and it’s heartbreaking. Covid is still a problem and it is reported that around 754,000 people have died from it. All of us know someone who has contracted this disease or has died of it. And, our church and nation have lost a sense of unity over masks and vaccines. How do we deal with or recover from all this loss? How do we peer beyond the veil of tears that obstruct our vision, hope, and joy? 

Scripture can be a source of comfort in times of trouble. Isaiah proclaims that “the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear.” Ah comfort food! That’s my first go-to solution for my troubles! Probably not the most healthy way to deal with stress or pain, but certainly comforting. That is, until I get on the scale!! Let’s face it, eating doesn’t help me look beyond my veil of tears, it only distracts me for the moment!

Yet there is more to this passage than eating good food. It is about celebrating the final victory over death together with all the saints at the great marriage feast of the Lamb. And the only tears allowed at this feast are ones of joy at being back in the presence of those we have loved and lost. Isaiah goes on to say, “the Lord of hosts will destroy the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death forever. Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces. Isaiah tells us that death is the universal enemy. God becomes the death of Death: and Death, the great devourer, will itself be swallowed up forever. So, at times when we can barely peer beyond our veil of tears, we may find comfort and hope as we look to scripture.

Prayer and music are other ways to help us in our distress. My brother Bill lived a tortured life. Sometimes when he was really down, he would call one of us on the phone and drive us a little crazy. But he would also get out his trumpet and play, What a Friend We Have in Jesus. 

What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry 
ev'rything to God in prayer!

Prayer and music were two ways he chose to  cope…ways he could peer beyond his veil of tears and alleviate of some of the grief and pain he bore.

Talking to others and seeking pastoral or professional care are two more ways to help us through hard times. During my 14 years at Good Shepherd, I have provided pastoral care and have conducted literally hundreds of funerals—almost 300. When I am called upon to do so, I spend a lot of time helping families process their loss. They tell me about the life of their loved ones, what they were like, what they liked to do, what their gifts and accomplishments were, and how they practiced or spoke about their faith. They reveal what they will always remember or miss most about their loved one and they share funny stories. As I listen, I get a sense of who the person was and some of the dynamics within the family. Often a theme arises and certain hymns and scripture reflect that theme. And then I weave it all together, wrapped around scripture in a homily that reflects how God’s light and love were reflected through them during their life-times. God’s love and grace for their loved ones is expressed and the glorious hope of the resurrection is brought into view. They are reminded of God’s promises to all his beloved children. They are reassured that their loved ones can never be separated from God’s love in Christ Jesus and were made inheritors of eternal life in their baptism. We share a blessed sacred time and there are tears, laughter, and joy as they begin to remember so many good and maybe not so good times they shared with their loved one. We also give thanks for their lives and witness. And, most importantly, we proclaim faith in the One who continues to hold us, together with them, in the great communion of saints that stretches across time and space. And so, with God’s help family members begin to peer beyond their veil of tears to see that there is hope in the days ahead.

So if you are currently grieving, please take the time and don’t be reluctant to talk about the one in your life who has died. It can be very comforting and healing to reflect upon the contributions of those who have gone before us. After all, it reminds us that they have helped shaped who we are today. It also helps us see there is life beyond the veil of tears.

How does a pastor bear the grief and pain of all those families and keep it together? The only thing I can tell you is that personally I can keep it together only for so long; and then, all of a sudden I just break down and cry. But I can tell you this: it has been a privilege to help all those families look beyond their veil of tears to see a glimmer of light and hope in their darkest days. So, if you are grieving a loss allow yourself to feel your emotions and cry. It is healthy to cry when you are feeling pain. And perhaps when you do, that veil of tears will be lifted and you can eventually move beyond it. Jesus even wept over the loss of his friend Lazarus, which is our gospel lesson today.

In the story of Jesus’ beloved friend Lazarus, we see Mary, Martha, the Jews and Jesus shedding tears over the death of Lazarus. What does Jesus do to get all who weep beyond their veil of tears? He goes to the tomb, and asks that the stone be taken away. Although Martha warns Jesus that Lazarus has been dead for four days and he stinks, it doesn’t stop Jesus. He prays to his Father. Then with a loud voice he says, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man comes out, his hands and feet are bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus says, “Unbind him, and let him go.” With that Mary, Martha, and all witnessing the event peer beyond their veil of tears and see the living Lazarus. We can be comforted by this story in knowing that death does not have the last word. 

For you see, God gives tools: scripture, prayer, music, people to listen to us, and our own tears to get us through the grief and pain. And God grants us hope that there are better days ahead, as we peer beyond our veil of tears. Whether we have lost a brother or sister, a father or mother, a nephew, niece, or grandchild, a good friend, church member or pastor, the ray of hope that pierces our veil of tears is Christ’s light shining in our darkness. He brings us light, joy, love, and the knowledge that death is not the end of the story.

And finally, let us give thanks for all the souls who have died, but have touched our lives over the years.  And, most importantly, let us proclaim faith in the One who continues to hold us, together with them, in the great communion of saints that stretches across time and space.

In Jesus’ name.
Amen.