Tears Are Water Is Life

Yesterday, as part of the Thanksgiving for Baptism on All Saints Day, we read:

 

“…We give you thanks, O God, for the waters of life;

For water to bathe in and water to drink,

For water to play in and water that inspires wonder,

For water that gives life to our planet.

We give you thanks, O God, for the waters of life…

 

We give you thanks for your salvation through water:

For delivering Noah and his family through the floodwaters,

For leading your people Israel through the sea into freedom,

For preserving your prophet Elijah through the time of drought,

For guiding your people across the Jordan into a new land,

For quenching the Samaritan woman’s thirst with living water.

We give you thanks for your salvation through water.”

 

Then, later in the service, as part of the Gospel reading, we read:

“Jesus began to weep.”

 

Tears.

Water.

Flowing down Jesus’ face.

Tears.

Water.

That moved Jesus to Lazarus’s tomb and caused him to bring forth Lazarus from the grave.

Tears.

Water.

That brought the dead to life.

Tears.

Water.

That brings salvation to us.

 

So go on and cry if you need to, friend.

Let the healing waters flow.

Let God’s salvation that saved Noah and Israel and Elijah and God’s people and the Samaritan woman and Lazarus

Save you, too.

Tears

(are)

Water

(is)

Life.

 

Amen.