A: 5th Sun of Lent (2 Apr 2017) - JESUS WEPT, SO DO I - Jn 11:1-45

Jesus wept (Jn 11:35). It is rendered by most English Bible translations as the shortest verse from the time Robert Estienne introduced verse-numbering in 1551. Despite having only two words, it is judged by many as a very powerful verse expressing the divine Jesus’ human emotion as he himself wept on the knowledge of his friend Lazarus’ death. It is then interpreted by the Jews around them as a sign of his deep affection for Lazarus (11:36). However, in reality, Jesus was not acting much because of his love for him since the Greek verb used here is “phileo,” which is of the same semantic root with the word for friend: “philos” (11:11). In the text, Jesus wept because “he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled” upon witnessing the agony of the family and friends of Lazarus who were weeping on his death (11:33).

Christ’s action is somewhat different from the weeping of Martha, Mary and the others (11:31-33). The latter’s action is the usual act of crying as seen in the Greek verb “klaio.” Jesus’ crying is uniquely his as expressed in the Greek verb “dakruo.” This word is originally a noun for tears but is used only here as a verb in the New Testament. In a way, we can say that Jesus’ weeping can be described as an involuntary falling of tears from his eyes. Being the respected prophet at least in the vicinity of Bethany, Jesus must have tried his best not to be emotionally involved in the episode. Upon hearing the news, Jesus showed an unparalleled confidence in his words assuring everybody that everything would be fine (11:4,11,14-15,23) climaxing with his self-manifestation as “the resurrection and the life” (11:25-26). But because of the deep sorrow at that moment of everybody… Jesus’ tears fell off… uncontrollably… even if he tries to suppress and hide it… tears just flowed from his eyes. It is because “he is greatly moved,” twice (11:33,38).

In the Philippine context at the start of the War on Drugs, wherein thousands of drug addicts and pushers were confronted, arrested or killed, I was too unfazed and unmoved with what was happening. Just as everybody else, I had still then high hopes that maybe this campaign would bring about change, peace and order, and provide a better life for majority of the Filipinos who are below the poverty line. Like Jesus, I initially had the confidence that everything would be fine at the end of the day despite the alarming chaos. But when I open the news of killings everyday, when I see photos of bloodbaths, and when I hear stories of abuse and injustice, despite being away 10,718 kms from the Philippines and totally unaffected by any political unrest there, I can’t help but “dakruo”… to shed into tears .

If your stomach is strong enough to see what moved me, check on the following:

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/12/07/world/asia/rodrigo-duterte-philippines-drugs-killings.html?_r=1

But if you are still not greatly moved in spite of everything you see, hear and witness, it will only make me shed into tears all the more… knowing that there are many who are indifferent to their fellow Filipinos’ real suffering and have failed to love them, at least as true Christians. For as Elie Wiesel said, “the opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference… and the opposite of life is not death, it’s indifference.”

- Rex Fortes, CM