Pause

If you think of glory as light, it is bright; we are amazed and blinded in its presence.

Love, though, is warm; we are invited to enter it, to be enveloped by its welcome.

Imagine these two portions of the spectrum coming together, one bleeding into the other, each becoming part of the other. You find it hard to distinguish them as separate.

Now think of God.

Listen

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.”

Revelation 21:3-4

Think

The gesture of wiping away someone’s tears involves sympathy, gentleness, and of course, a clean tissue. It is a gesture of love. It shows an intimate moment between two people and is, sadly, less frequent to spot in today’s highly self-conscious world. A parent wiping away the tears of an upset child, an adult wiping away tears from her elderly mother’s face, a sister wiping away tears for her younger brother who lost a friend — wiping away tears requires more than meets the eye.

Scripture tells us that God will wipe every tear from every eye. There is a God who bends down, kneels, and draws close to us so that our Lord can wipe the tears from our eyes. It is an image of a God who is intimately involved, cares deeply, and knows our pain.

Sisters and brothers, may we take comfort in our loving God who promises to be with us today, tomorrow, and forevermore.

Aram Bae

Pray

God of glory and love, you know my every pain and sorrow. You are with me wherever I go and whatever I am facing. Help me to find comfort in your presence, knowing that your Spirit is in me and with me. Amen.

Go

God the Creator, guide my heart and fill it with kindness and gentleness.
God the Redeemer, clear my mind and focus me with mercy and grace.

God the Sustainer, steady my soul and convict it with justice and truth.

As you bless me today with your glory and love, may I bless others too.