“Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” – Matthew 5:4

What does it mean to mourn?

This verse can be something we can cling to when we are mourning. It also is one of the many places in the Bible that shows us that it is okay to share our emotions. The word share is what the second Beatitude comes down to. Mourning happens when we have shared something and it comes to an end. When we share in life, we share both love and pain, the good times and the bad times. We are faced with times when we can give comfort and times when we receive comfort. We can rely on Jesus’ words of comfort. The Message uses these words – “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you”. When we feel like we have lost everything that is when we can feel embraced by God. That is where blessing lies.

Questions for reflection

Where are you in this? Are you in a place of mourning? Are you able to share in comfort?

Where or with whom can you share comfort?

What period of mourning are you open to share?

How can we live out the Second Beatitude?

• Share a loss you’re experiencing right now with God through journaling or prayer or with a trusted person in your life. Create some space for God to comfort you this week.
• Bring joy to someone by being a secret pal to someone who feels isolated in these times.
• Think of a way you can share your mourning to provide comfort to others. Here are a few examples of how some of our church members are sharing their mourning to comfort others.
  • After losing their daughter Harper, the Rodden family started Harper’s Hugs – read about Harper’s story and the this ministry born out of her family’s grief on the Harper’s Hugs website.
  • Stu Ervay has been walking with his wife Barbara as she suffers with Alzheimer’s disease. He recently began a blog to share both about Barbara’s legacy and his role as a caregiver. You can find his blog here, and read more to see the ways he is using his own grief to be a gift to others in similar situations.

Prayer

God whose heart breaks for each of us, be close to the heart broken.

God who stands firm, be the strength for those who feel weak this day.

God who offers comfort to all, be our comfort as we are called to share your comfort with others.

In Jesus name we pray. Amen.