Matthew 5: 4

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

LECTIO & MEDIDTATIO

One might translate this 2nd beatitude
“Happy are the unhappy" in order to draw attention to the paradox it contains.
What kind of sorrow can it be which brings the joy of Christ’s blessing to those who feel it?
It is plain from those promised comfort are not primarily those who mourn the loss of a loved one, but those who mourn the loss of their innocence, their righteousness, their self-respect.
It is a sorrow of repentance.

Weeping for sins can be deeply poignant and can cover a global as well as personal view of sin and our participation in it.

Isaiah 40: 1
"Comfort, comfort my people" is God's response to human sin.
The first two beatitudes deliberately allude to the messianic blessing of Isaiah 61: 1 - 3.
But these blessings, already realized partially but fully only at the consummation,
depend on a Messiah who has come to save his people from their sins.

When we mourn because we know that we are sinful,
only then can we experience God’s mercy.
That is why someone once said,
“Only bad people needs the mercy of God.”
Jesus said that he came for the sinners and the sick.

So it is truly our attitude that God sees in us.
Do we mourn for our sins?
Do we feel that we need a Saviour?
Do we ask for forgiveness because we know that we have done wrong?

CONTEMPLATIO / PRAYER
Lord Jesus, help me recognize that I am sinful.
That I need a Saviour to forgive me and save me from my sins.
Amen.