1 Thess 3:7-13 / Matthew 24:42-51
When the clouds are heavy, the rains come down. (Ecclesiastes 11:3). Similarly when the heart is heavy, the tears will fall.
The earth has received many tears from humanity since time began and the tears have yet to cease.
We shed tears when in pain; we shed tears when in grief and sorrow; we shed tears when overcome by emotions. When the heart is heavy, the tears will fall.
In the 1st reading, St. Paul mentioned a little about his own troubles and sorrows but with not much details.
But in other letters to the other early Christian communities, he did mention about shedding tears for them.
To shed tears over our own trials and tribulations is understandable; but to shed tears for someone would mean that the person(s) really matter to us.
It may not be tears literally, but those times when we pour out our life and time looking out for those whom we care about, but have gone astray.
Our worry and anxiety for them, the pain that we feel in our heart for them, those are like invisible tears that only we ourselves will know.
But still, may we stay awake at all times, praying and making sacrifices for them, so that their tears will cease, and so that there will be no more weeping and grinding of teeth.