Thought for
the Day – July 2013
A friend recently told me about the funeral of his
best friend which he attended last year. It was at a Cathedral and was
quite a big affair with the cathedral choir and hundreds of mourners. My friend
was to give a eulogy and was rather worried that he would become upset and not
be able to hold himself together enough to give the talk and do justice to his
friend.
The time came for him to address the congregation
and he began rather nervously to speak, holding onto the lectern for support.
As he continued on he felt more and more confident and far from being upset he
even spoke joyfully as he felt the Holy Spirit give him strength and courage.
He told me that he felt he was cheering his friend on into the Lord’s safe
keeping and wondered at the joy and happiness he felt on this day when others
were sad.
Funerals are naturally a difficult time for
everyone and in the Bible we are told that when his friend Lazarus died Jesus
wept. He wept because he is a God of compassion. He wept at the distress and
unhappiness he saw around him - and he still comes alongside us today to
comfort us in our grief. But he can also enter into our every circumstance,
change us and give us courage by his indwelling Spirit. These moments can feel
like a true gift of grace and a welcome sign of God’s Kingdom.
