The day after a death is one of the most difficult in the grieving process. You may have witnessed a person with you one moment and gone the next. Or you may expect that person to walk through the door as usual.
I’m sure the day after Christ’s crucifixion, his mother and disciples were heavy in heart, exhausted from watching their hope and their life — the living water — say He was thirsty and breathe his last breath.
They would have violenting torn their clothes.
It’s an ancient again that is called Kriah (pronounced KREE-uh) and it is a tangible expression of grief and anger in the wake of death.
Jacob rent his clothes when he learned of Joseph’s death in scripture. King David and all his men violently tore their clothes when they learned of Saul and Jonathan’s deaths. Job stood up and tore his clothes in mourning over his lost children.
As the family tears or rends their clothes they recite a blessing:
Blessed are You, Adonai Our God, Ruler of the Universe, the True Judge.
The Basics of Kria, or Tearing A piece of clothing
They say this blessing everyday of Shiva — a seven-day mourning period.
As the disciples and Mary, his mother, and his siblings began the process of mourning, they had no idea of what three days would bring. ❤
TotallyKris 