"Jesus began to weep."
John 11:35

When Jesus learned that his friend Lazarus had died, he wept. He goes on to raise Lazarus from the dead - a story worth reading. But, for a moment, let's stick with this image of Jesus weeping.

Many of you have already experienced the pain of losing someone that you care about. Somehow, I take great comfort in knowing that this is an experience we all share, even with Jesus. Being able to share such grief in a community of faith is a good thing - good because we're able to offer compassion and sympathy to one another, and good because, at the heart of our community, there is hope. It's our job to share that hope with one another.

This week, the church will celebrate All Saints Day. This is a day when we remember those who have died, particularly in the last year. It's a day when we can share one another's grief. It's also a day when we can speak a word of hope to one another: death does not have the last word. Nothing, not even death, can separate us from God's love and care. And, in ways that are beyond our knowing, all of those who have known death are still somehow present. This is the mystery we celebrate: we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, and the communion of the saints extends beyond what we can see and hear.

None of this erases the grief. Jesus did weep, and we have, and will, do the same. But our hope changes our grief, for we know that loss is not the end.

This week at Wesley, we'll be celebrating All Saints Day - both with grief and joy. I hope you'll join us.