Blessed are those who mourn ...
This has been a confusing passage to some who are hurting. It almost sounds like mourning is a desired state, like blessed are the meek or the peacemakers. But as we’ve seen in the last few posts, we may be getting it backwards.
Grief comes to us from many directions, the loss of a loved one, a relationship or even a dream. Mourning signals that outward expression of our grief. Our culture is not particularly comfortable with it and we slap on a bandage so we don’t feel it or don’t see it. While it’s not to be sought after, it is okay to mourn. Things are not as they should be here. Jesus wept – and He weeps with us.
The beatitudes show what a blessed (bless-ed) person is like; someone given to God and knowing the fullness of His presence. If you are already living in that state of blessedness, when you mourn – and you will – you will be comforted.
Because we are blessed, the Holy Spirit is with us to comfort us. We have the assurance of God’s rightness, that things will be made right one day. Our comfort comes from His current presence in our pain as well as the hope of things to come.
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. Revelation 21:4
Mourning is not a blessed state; it will be wiped out one day. But those who are blessed will find comfort - even in their mourning.
... for they will be comforted. Matthew 5:4
