Famous Women in the Bible and History
A Woman’s Tears
A woman often weeps over trivial matters, or because of excessive sensitivity, or she weeps out of despair, anger, love, pretense, or illness…
There are, however, holy tears that were shed by saintly women. They had their effect before the Lord Himself and received His response.
We shall mention some examples of them:
1- The Tears of Hannah, the Mother of Samuel:
She was barren, and her rival provoked her. So she poured out her soul before the Lord, prayed a prayer, wept bitterly, and made a vow. She spoke to the Lord in her heart with tears, while her voice was not heard.
But God heard her, answered her tears, and granted her offspring. She gave birth to Samuel the great prophet. She fulfilled her vow and presented him to the Temple of the Lord.
2- The Tears of Monica, the Mother of Augustine:
Her son was far from the Lord. Saint Monica persevered in praying for him with tears and continued weeping for his salvation for many years. Saint Ambrose reassured her, saying, “The son of these tears shall not perish.”
The Lord answered her tears, and her son Augustine repented and returned to the Lord with strength and depth, until he became one of the spiritual leaders of the Universal Church…
3- The Tears of the Sinful Woman:
She is the sinful woman who met the Lord in the house of the Pharisee, wet His feet with her tears, wiped them with the hair of her head, and the Lord accepted her tears, forgave her sins, preferred her over the Pharisee, and blessed her love, saying, “Her many sins have been forgiven, because she loved much.”
4- The Tears of Mary, the Sister of Lazarus:
She wept because of her brother’s death, and she wept because the Lord had not come during her brother’s illness. Falling at His feet, she said to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died…” When the Lord saw her weeping… He also wept. (John 11:35).
How profound were these tears that made the Lord Himself weep…
An article by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III – El-Keraza Magazine – Eighth Year (Issue No. 35) – September 2, 1977.
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