Mourning
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” -Matthew 5:6
The Sermon on the Mount contains a significant amount of the teachings of Jesus. Chapters 5-7 of Matthew’s Gospel describe the kingdom of heaven. The Sermon opens with the Beatitudes. The word “beatitude” comes from the Latin beatitudo. This is the Latin word used to communicate the word “blessed.” One of the earliest versions of the Latin Bible is known as the Vulgate. It is from this version of the Bible that we have come to know Matthew Chapter 5:3-12 as the Beatitudes.
The Beatitudes describe the new order that comes with the arrival of God’s Son. God’s kingdom has arrived, and it is different. Through God’s grace, the weak become strong, the hungry are fed, and the persecuted find themselves at peace. Jesus speaks the Beatitudes as a direct reminder that because we have connection with God we are blessed.
The peace that arrives with God’s kingdom includes those who mourn. How can this be? How can mourning and blessing exist simultaneously? It is normal to experience sorrow when we experience loss. Mourning is an essential part of life and our experience with death. We often want to force ourselves not to feel sadness in the midst of loss, but it is natural. If we lose someone we loved, there will be pain. Mourning is important and healthy.
The problem with mourning is that we don’t want to be sad. Our current culture often tells us we should be in a constant state of happiness. That is just not possible, especially when we have authentic and close relationships. There is a time for mourning (Ecclesiastes 3:4). God created us with the ability to laugh and cry. There is much in our lives that causes tears.
Thankfully, our mourning is accompanied by the comfort of God. In our pain, God draws ever closer. There is a deeper connection with our creator that happens because our sorrow pushes us to look beyond ourselves for strength. In our weakness, God offers strength and peace. In moments of loss and suffering, we see the hope of heaven that brings light to our darkness. (1 Thessalonians 4:13)
We are blessed. There is no greater truth. Our blessing is not because of our circumstances, but because of God’s gracious presence in our lives. God has chosen to be with His children. This world we live in is filled with good and bad, happiness and sorrow, delight and pain. In all things, God is present. This is the good news of the kingdom of heaven. We are blessed, we are comforted, because God is with us.
-Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship