Luke 7:13 – When the Lord saw her, He felt compassion for her and said to her, “Do not go on weeping.”

There is something irresistible about a mother’s tears, I suppose this has to do with that embryonic connection between mom and child, that connection that started in the womb. When a child is hurting or suffering the mother is effected more than anyone else. In this story the mother who was also a widow had lost her only son. Apparently this seemed too much for her to carry but carry this burden she must. Somehow her cries become cries of help to heaven, the Lord heard her cries and He helped her. She had lost her husband and her only son, in her world her life was over, at least it seemed to be over until Jesus came to her home town. Not only were her tears stopped, her prayer was answered, her son was alive and she was getting her life back. Similar stories can be told again and gain, the Lord hears the cries of the mothers who continually bring their children to the Lord. Here is how Ambrose describes this moment.

“Although there is grave sin that you cannot wash away yourself with the tears of your penitence, let the mother of the church weep for you. She who intercedes for all as a widowed mother for only sons is she who suffers with the spiritual grief of nature when she perceives her children urged on to death by mortal sins. We are heart of her heart, for there is also a spiritual heart that Paul has, saying, “Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.” We are the heart of the church, since we are members of his Body, of his flesh and of his bones. Let the pious mother grieve, let the crowd, too, help. Let not only the crowd but also a multitude feel pity for a good parent. Already at the funeral you will arise, already will you be released from the sepulcher; the attendants at your funeral will stand still, you will begin to speak words of life, all will be afraid; for very many are corrected by the example of one. They will praise God, who has bestowed upon us such great help for the avoidance of death.”

The truth of the matter is this, there are dead people all around us. Just as Jesus stopped that funeral procession on the road just out of Nain He is stopping people in the middle of their march of death. Maybe you are grieving over something that died in your world, don’t be surprised if you run into Jesus before you can bring it to the grave.