Tears are agents of resurrection, ushering us into new life—life lived awake and fully present. St. Ephrem writes: “Give God weeping, and increase the tears in your eyes, through your tears and his goodness the soul which has been dead will be restored” (Irene Hausherr, Penthos: The Doctrine of Compunction in the Christian East [Cistercian Publication, 1982], 29). He who is aware of his sins is greater than one who can raise the dead. Whoever can weep over himself for one hour is greater than the