Everyday Beatitudes

This one caught the attention of the disciples. They had to be thinking, first I'm told I'm not in charge of my own life and now I've got to mourn to be comforted. Does this man not ever talk about anything positive? What could he be talking about, are we going to start seeing people around dying all the time? Mourning I would assume had the same meaning back in Jesus day as it does now. A layman, or really anyone with 'walking around sense', would certainly associate 'feeling sorrow or grieve' with the loss of a loved one or someone close. We are introduced to the heart wrenching mourning for someone we love early on in our lives and tend to have always associated the word 'mourn' with such a loss. Because this passage came from Jesus himself, as a part of what is probably one of the main sermons he ever preached, I think we need to look at what he said in a broader sense and try to find meaning above and beyond the feelings we have at the loss of a loved one.

My dear friend and minister Dr. Greer's sermon dug much deeper into explanations of the meanings of the words and with great skill explained the various interpretations of learned men over the years about just what Jesus was talking about. All of these I am sure are much better than I could ever explain. But since my purpose for this writing is to find a meaning I understand and could convey to my children I sought Mr. Webster's help. To try and understand what Jesus was talking about I went back and looked the word up in my faithful paperback 'Webster's II, New Riverside Dictionary", (revised Edition). Mr. Webster and his revisers defined the word 'mourn' as; "To express or feel sorrow (for): grieve".

Webster did not mention death in his definition of the word 'mourn'. I think Jesus was using Mr. Webster's definition when he spoke that day on the mountainside to his disciples. Christians have more to mourn than the loss of a loved one. True Christians should have many things we express or feel sorrow about in our lives. I am sorry, therefore I mourn, because I have not had the nerve to look total strangers in the eye and ask them if they know Jesus and that he died for them. I am sorry, therefore I mourn, I have wasted such a large portion of my life not seeking a close personal relationship with the one who died on a cross with my name in his heart. I'm sorry, therefore I mourn, I have not studied his word more or paid enough attention to the sick, the unclothed and unsheltered. When I look at the devastation caused by natural forces or human hand I can't help but grieve for the disruption in my brothers and sisters lives. I know teachers who distress every day over children who are not fed, or clothed or cleaned by parents who have little regard for their own children. I know Doctors and medical professionals who are moved to tears over the sickness and broken bodies they deal with daily. We mourn and grieve for someone, somewhere everyday if we are followers of Christ. Those disciples had seen enough suffering and pain on that first trip after being chosen by Jesus. Jesus knew that as his followers became more and more conscious of the general state of man as he continued to teach and minister their grieving and mourning would intensify without a God to comfort them. This promise gives us the peace within to continue on and not be overcome by mourning a world that will not listen and accept the Kingdom Christ offers.

Jesus message to the disciples that day and to us now was one that would enabled his followers to continue to mourn the bad but persevere until he comes again. How could Jesus raise the consciousness of those who follow him to the suffering man experiences by his separation from God without God giving his people a promise of comfort and hope from above?

If we follow Christ teachings we are charged with the responsibility of feeling the pain of the world around us. Jesus gave us a promise that in our mourning for that world we will be comforted.

Dr. Ed Kimbrough, the pastor at Trinity Methodist I mentioned earlier often quoted a poem I have always found great comfort in reading and hearing. I don't know the author and have not been able to find his/her name but the thoughts are appropriate for this lesson from the Beatitudes.

God has not promised
Skies always blue,
Flower-strewn pathways
All our lives through;

God has not promised
Sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow,
Peace without pain;

God has not promised
We shall not know
Toil and temptation,
Trouble and woe;

He has not told us
We shall not bear
Many a burden,
Many a care;

But God has promised
Strength for the day,
Rest for the labor,
Light for the way,
Grace for the trials,
Help from above;
Unfailing sympathy,
Undying love.

God blesses those who mourn,
for they will be comforted