Hiking mountains in Japan. - Photo: Fr George Hogarty
A parishioner whose husband had died two years before had now lost her only son. He had died of a heart attack while hiking in the mountains. His car was found in a parking lot at the foot of the trail, but his body was not discovered for two days. He was a caring and loving son. His mother was distraught. Sudden death is always a great shock.
His mother told me, “There is an emptiness and dire hunger in my heart”. She used a Japanese verb with a strong meaning, usually associated with “dying of hunger”.
Like the gospel scene of Nain (Luke 7:11), Jesus saw this mother’s tears and consoled her. But as so often happens, the Risen Lord in our world today works through others. Jesus says to us, “You are my hands and voice”. In this case, a fellow parishioner and friend sent the grieving mother an amaryllis bulb in a pre-prepared container. All that was needed was to insert water. It was sent as a consolation gift.
When the roots of the dead-looking amaryllis bulb touch water, they first show green leaves, then a bud, and finally, bloom in glory. And just as it bloomed, the bereaved mother read the words of Jesus, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die” (John 11:25).
This tearful mother, thanks to the eternal present tense of Jesus’ words and aided by a bulb in bloom, was greatly consoled. She realised that her son’s love was still with her. And I told her that she could still talk to her loving son, as this was one part of what we believe when we use the theological shorthand term “communion of saints”.
So, this plant had a message for the grieving mother. It also has a living message for us today. Consolation of the saddened ones of life is a great act of kindness, and we are acting in the name of Jesus when we console them. In the vein of chapter 25 of the Gospel of Matthew, the Lord will say to us, “When I was sad, you comforted me. Whenever you did it to one of my people, you did it to me”.
Columban Fr Barry Cairns lives and works in Japan.
Listen to "A grieving mother is consoled"
Related links
- Read more from The Far East - November/December 2023
