December 7, 2024
— Rev. Timothy Keller
The following is an excerpt from Rev. Timothy Keller’s book, “Walking With God Through Pain and Suffering.”“The major difference between the Greek philosophers and Christianity was seen in how Christian consolation gave far more scope to expressions of sorrow and grief. Tears and cries are not to be stifled or even kept under strict limits—they are natural and good. Cyprian cites St. Paul, saying that Christians are to really grieve—but to do so bathed in hope (1 Thess 4:13).85 Christians did not see grief as a useless thing to be suppressed at all costs.
“St. Ambrose did not apologize for his tears and grief over the death of his brother. Pointing to Jesus’ tears at the tomb of Lazarus, he wrote: ‘We have not incurred any grievous sin by our tears. Not all weeping proceeds from unbelief or weakness…. The Lord also wept. He wept for one not related to Him, I for my brother. He wept for all in weeping for one, I will weep for the all, in my brother.’
“For Christians, suffering was not to be dealt with primarily through the control and suppression of negative emotions with the use of reason or willpower. Ultimate reality was known not primarily through reason and contemplation but through relationship. Salvation was through humility, faith, and love rather than reason and control of emotions. And therefore, Christians don’t face adversity by stoically decreasing our love for the people and things of this world so much as by increasing our love and joy in God.”
Today, we observe the Feast of St. Ambrose, who understood the depth of grief and whose words still offer us solace.
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