by J. Randal Matheny

[Note: This article is translated from yesterday's communion meditation in Sao Jose dos Campos.]

In his book, Bad Mood Power [O Poder de Mau Humor], Brazilian author Ruy Castro quotes film director Glauber Rocha, "Tears do not change history."

So true. If tears could change history, many mothers would have their dead children back. Many harsh words would return to the mouths that spoke them. Many crimes would be undone and their perpetrators released from prison. Many wars would be avoided, lives spared, and destruction averted.

If tears could change history, that horrible error of mine in the past would be fixed. And my life would be so different.

If tears could change history, Esau would have had his inheritance back.

But tears do not change history. So that is why the Hebrew writer insists,

"See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; ... that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears" (Heb. 12:15-17, NASU).

If tears could change history, Gethsemane would have been sufficient. Once more, Hebrews says, "In the days of His flesh, [Jesus] offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety" (Hebrews 5:7).

Certainly, in the Garden of Gethsemane, as Jesus' sweat fell as drops of blood upon the ground, he prayed intensely with tears, in order that the cup of suffering might pass from him.

But tears do not change history.

Recognizing that truth, Jesus rose from the place of prayer and went to confront the multitude coming to arrest him, in order to crucify him.

Afraid of the authorities, Peter denied Jesus three times. When he heard the cock crow, he went out and cried bitterly. But tears cannot change history.

When Jesus died, all the crowds beat their breasts, as a sign of great grief ... and went away. Because tears do not change history. If they could ...!

Before the empty tomb, Mary cried because she did not find the body of Jesus. Filled with tears, her eyes did not perceive that angels announced the resurrection of her Lord; they confused Jesus for a gardener.

Tears not only cannot change history, but sometimes they keep us from seeing the new reality.

Those who do not obey Jesus will be cast out, in the dark, where there will be crying and gnashing of teeth. So let us dry now our tears and convert the crying -- present and future -- into celebration.

Because he is not in the tomb; he has risen.

Tears do not change history, and that is why we are here today united around a Cross.