"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted" - Matthew 5:4
The second beatitude in the Sermon on the Mount speaks of mourning. It's a surprising statement because we don't usually associate mourning with happiness. However, when we understand what Jesus meant by "mourning," we see that it has a deeper meaning.
The word "mourning" in this verse doesn't refer to the sadness we feel when someone we love dies. Instead, it refers to a deeper sorrow we experience when we see the sin and brokenness of the world around us. This mourning is a result of our awareness of the ways in which humanity has turned away from God and hurt one another.
In this sense, mourning becomes a sign of our deep longing for things to be made right. It's a recognition that the world as it is, is not the way it's supposed to be. And yet, even in the midst of this sorrow, Jesus promises comfort. He assures us that God is with us in our mourning and that He will bring healing to our broken hearts.
As followers of Christ, we are called to be people who mourn. We must be willing to see the brokenness in the world and in ourselves, and to grieve over it. However, we don't do this without hope. We know that Jesus has come to bring healing and restoration, and that He will one day make all things new.
So, let us mourn with hope, trusting that God will comfort us and use our sorrow to build His kingdom. May we be willing to confront the sin and brokenness in our own lives and in the world around us, knowing that God is with us and that He is working to bring about His perfect plan.