Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
A few days ago, just before we got started at the sol café, I was casually reading the front page stories from our local newspaper. Somewhere on the bottom was an article about the latest suicide bombings in the middle east – X number of people died at location Y. What struck me afterward was my lack of mourning for the victims – including the one who committed suicide. The thought that was in my mind was how this might affect my proposed travel to the middle east this spring.
Why is it that those who mourn are blessed? I think Jesus is not simply offering a promise of comfort to those of us who experience the tragedy of death in our lives (and we all do at some point). I think Jesus is getting at something more profound – something deeper.
I mourn for those I love. I do not mourn for those I do not love. It is as simple as that.
If I do not mourn at the tragedy of the death of your friend, or your brother, it is because I do not love them. My lack of mourning is a sign that I do not love all my neighbours as myself – I only attempt that kind of love for a select few. I do not mourn much if I do not love much.
Remember Jesus weeping? He wept for Lazarus – a single person he knew and loved, and he wept for Jerusalem – a whole city. I believe this beatitude is his invitation to mourn as He mourns. Not just for a select few neighbours who are close to me, but for all who suffer.
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