In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

     In spite of Brett Favre's emotional, tearful announcement this week that he's retiring from football (sorry, you "cheeseheads"), it's generally assumed that men don't like to cry. I don't know whether that's true, or not-because when I'm upset, or moved, or touched, I can't keep from welling up inside, and shedding a tear. But do you men here, cry? Or do you hold it in at all costs-afraid or unwilling to appear sensitive, or weak? The sad thing is even the most stoic, hardened men, at some point in life, break down and bawl like a baby. In my first parish, a wonderful, though generally emotionless, long-confirmed Norwegian bachelor, now of blessed memory, who found love and marriage at age 80, sobbed in my arms, in our hospital emergency room, upon hearing that his wife of four years, had been killed by a drunk driver. Stoic, yes. Sometimes emotionally unavailable, yes, like most men of his age and background. But unable to cry? Perhaps he thought so. But there came a time, when he couldn't help but break down and cry. That's just the way life is. And I wish we could all accept that, and deal with it, and not feel we have to hold in our tears, because they can be cleansing, and healing. Maybe we men need to learn that, but from my experience, I also think some of our teens and youth have a hard time accepting their emotions, and dealing with their emotions openly-preferring to project an emotionless façade. Afraid they will come across as soft or too sensitive, if they cry, and be ridiculed because of it, they act tough and unmoved-as if nothing touches them, or bothers them. There's nothing wrong with crying, even crying in front of others. Crying is a human response to grief, loss, fear and sadness. And, it seems, it's also a divine response, as today, we hear from the Gospel of John, in response to the death of Lazarus, "Jesus wept." What's been called the shortest verse in the Bible, may also be considered the most profound.

     And why is it so profound that Jesus wept? Because surely, this was not just Jesus' humanity taking hold of him-but in his divinity, Jesus also was moved to tears! And not only was Jesus weeping for Lazarus, and Martha and Mary, Jesus was weeping for all of us, for humanity as a whole, and surely for our culture of death. The early church father, Potamius of Lisbon, wrote in the Fourth Century about Jesus' tears, saying, "God wept, moved by the tears of mortals, and although he was about to release Lazarus from the bond of death by the exercise of his power, fulfilled the component of human affection with the comfort of his sympathetic tears. God wept, not because he learned that the young man had died before him, but because human nature had fallen to such an extent that, after being expelled from eternity, humans had come to love the lower world. God wept because those who could be immortal, were now mortal. God wept because those whom he had rewarded with every benefit and had placed under his power, those whom he had set in paradise, among flowers and lilies without any hardship, the devil, by teaching them to sin, exiled from almost every delight. God wept, because those whom he had created innocent, were now, through their wickedness, found guilty."

     Oh sure, we read this account of Jesus and Lazarus, and conclude Jesus wept because of his great love for his friends-which is true, as John tells us it is true. But Potamius reminds us that more is at work here than Jesus and his relationship with Lazarus. Potamius tells us that this encounter and this miracle of restoration of life, is about us, and Jesus' love for us, and God's tears for us and for our fallen humanity-and finally, it's about God's intention, in Jesus, to save us. Here, we see God, in Jesus, crying, not just for Lazarus, but for every sad, tragic reality of life and death in our world. God cries, here, with us, for children who die too soon; for innocent babies aborted for the convenience of irresponsible parents; for victims of domestic violence; for families torn apart by alcohol and drug abuse; God weeps here for all the starving of the world; for those who have no home in which to sleep, and for those who live in such poverty, they have no hope for the future. God weeps for teenagers who are struggling with shame and loneliness; for youth who feel alone and forsaken; for adults who have no purpose or meaning in life; for all who are so angry or hurt that they turn to violence or suicide; God weeps for all of us, and for each of us, who struggle with illness, grief, alienation, darkness, depression and anxiety.

     And in His great sorrow, God sent His Son to save, not just Lazarus, but the world, from sin, death and the devil-from the corrupt, ungodly existence in which we find ourselves. Jesus weeps, and Jesus came to save, all of us. Which is why Jesus delays, a time, before coming to Bethany. Jesus said to his disciples, while he was on his way to Mary and Martha, "Lazarus is dead. For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe." This is one of the signs Jesus did, to bring people from unbelief to belief, and from fear and uncertainty, to faith. Which is why, before restoring life to Lazarus, Jesus says to Martha, "I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die." And then, Jesus asks Martha, and you and me, "Do you believe this?"

     And this is no rhetorical question-this is no academic query Jesus is posing-Jesus wants an answer-do you believe this? Do you believe that Jesus is the resurrection and the life? Do you believe that in Him, though we die, yet shall we live? Do you believe that in Jesus, the Father is resurrecting the world-raising us up, not just after death, but now, in the midst of life, giving us new life, and new hope, and new beginnings? The antidote to what Pope John Paul II termed our "culture of death", is life-life in Jesus Christ, who is the resurrection and the life. Do you believe that? Do you trust that Jesus is Lord of life and death, and has dominion over your life and your death?

     While Jesus asked Mary and Martha if they believed-the fact is, Lazarus's belief didn't matter. It was not Lazarus' belief in Jesus or lack of belief in Jesus that caused him to be restored to life, but only Jesus' power and command. And surely that's sufficient for us, as well. And yet, it is important that we believe, now, because it brings us the hope and assurance that comes from knowing Jesus is the resurrection and the life. It is important for us to believe, because that gives us courage for living and for boldly continuing on in life, regardless the pain, and suffering and grief and loss. Belief is important for us now-to be able to say, "Yes, Lord, I believe", with full confidence and assurance. But ultimately, finally, all that really matters, is the powerful, commanding, life-giving word of Jesus! His word is what raised Lazarus from death, just as it's His word which will raise us, from death, just as it's His word, that can give us life, not just then, not just when we are dead and buried-but now-now, when we need resurrection and restoration to life-every bit as much as we will need it at the end of earthly life. So that Jesus is today, commanding, not just Lazarus, but us, you and me, to be raised to new life, and to "Come out!"

     Andrew, Bishop of Crete in 7th and 8th centuries, wrote a poem of sorts for a sermon on this text, giving voice to Jesus' command-with its meaning for Lazarus, and for all of us who need new life, as Jesus says in the poem,

     Lazarus, Come out! It is the voice of the Lord, the proclamation of the king-an authoritative command. Come out! As a friend I am calling you; as Lord I am commanding you.Come out.come alive, and enlivened. Come out! Let breath appear in your nostrils, let blood pulse through your veins, let the voice sound in your larynx, let words fill your ears, let vision enlighten your eyes, let the sense of smell fill your senses, walk as nature intended as your earthly tent is enlivened by your soul. Leave behind the burial cloth and glorify the miracle. Leave the revolting stench of death and proclaim the strength of my power. I'm calling you out! Come out!"

     And indeed, Jesus is calling us-"come out!" Come out of the darkness and depression that engulfs you-come out of the grief and loss-come out of the shame and embarrassment-come out of the doubt and worry-come out of the living death that sometimes gets hold of you-come out, into the Light of resurrection and new life, and hope and promise and joy and excitement, that comes, with Jesus, who is Himself, the resurrection and the life. You-yes, you-Jesus commands, "come out", and come to His light and His life!

     In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.