"A drizzling rain falls like tears on the Mourning Day; the mourner's heart is going to break on his way." This well-known translation by Xu Yuanchong of the classical Chinese poem "The Mourning Day" depicts the melancholy pervading the Tomb-Sweeping Festival. However, some Christians approach this traditional Chinese festival with a different perspective, carrying hope while remembering the deceased.
Before the Qingming Festival or the Tomb-Sweeping Day, I once accompanied members of a church to their cemetery to observe tomb-sweeping traditions. Early in the morning, two buses departed from downtown, carrying congregants on a journey of over an hour to a large mountainside cemetery, part of which is designated for the church's use.
At the foot of the mountain, a designated facility allows for the burning of paper offerings in a controlled and environmentally conscious manner. A short climb up the mountain path leads to the church cemetery, where a two-meter-tall stone monument bearing a red cross immediately draws attention. Below the cross are the words "X Municipal Christian Cemetery" (with "X" being used for anonymity), flanked on either side by smaller inscriptions: "The Lord Comes to Meet (主来相会)" and "The Trumpet Sounds (号筒吹响)." Standing before the monument, believers held white and yellow chrysanthemums as a pastor in a white robe led a prayer of intercession.
Beside the main monument lies the tombstone of the elderly pastor who founded the local church there. She lived to be over 90 years old. Congregants took turns laying chrysanthemums before the tombstone or gently scattering petals on the platform. Some lingered, reluctant to leave. The current pastor shared again the testimony of the founder's service, stories that have become even more cherished over time.
This elderly pastor had once heard sharing from renowned preachers such as John Sung, the renowned Chinese evangelist known as the "Wesley of China." In the 1980s, she moved from another region to plant the church, with her own home serving as the first meeting place for the congregation. She spread the gospel on foot, reaching the city and numerous surrounding villages. As the church grew, she was appointed president of the municipal Christian Council.
One of her frequently sayings was, "Loving the Lord will not be in vain; serving the Lord is the best; the soul is the most precious." These words summarize her life of faithful service. She deeply cared for the believers and was familiar with the personal circumstances of many of them. In her later years, reflecting on pastoral care, she once said with concern, "Some pastors today are too idle. Pastors must spend time listening to believers' confessions. Some lack the patience to do so. The elderly often come with burdens and simply need someone to hear them out. They may not be seeking solutions, but just a listener."
After laying flowers at the grave of the church's founder, the group proceeded up the stone steps flanked by tall pine and cypress trees. Some chose to remain and wait. Along the path, rows of identical tombstones, each marked with a red cross, stood in neat rows. At the appointed time, the believers dispersed to different graves, with some wiping dust from the stones and others placing flowers.
I followed the church's pastors as they moved from grave to grave. They paused occasionally, laying flowers while sharing memories: "Her home was once a gathering place, and her descendants still serve in the church." "She had deep faith, always eager to read the Bible and pray." "He was a loyal servant of God and contributed greatly to His house."
Their reflections brought to mind two passages from the Bible: "'Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.' 'Yes,' says the Spirit, 'they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.'" and "By faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead."
- Translated by Poppy Chan
