Those who Mourn

Matthew 5:4 NIV: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

Continuing on with the Beatitudes. This is another striking statement, considering that this promise concerns being blessed or fortunate. Let’s look at the two descriptive words in this verse. First is mourning- the Greek word pentheo‘ means to grieve over death in its proper form; however, it also means to grieve over a personal hope (especially a relationship) that dies or ends. This much broader definition is the one used in this verse. It doesn’t take very long in life to have occasion to grieve. We grieve the loss of loved ones, friendships, marriages, dreams, childhoods, health, jobs, etc. One thing inherent to grief is that it is distressing. In fact, Merriam-Webster uses the term “to cause to suffer.”

I know few who would choose to go through grief, so why would the Bible call it fortunate to suffer a loss? To have a hope die or love end? The answer comes in the second word: comforted. The Greek word is parakaleo’ which in literal terms means “to call” from “close beside.” It is used, though, to mean encourage, comfort, refresh, or cheer. It strikes me that it takes others to comfort, whether that be someone sending a card, bringing food, mowing a yard, sitting in silence, giving a hug, or texting to check-in.

Those who have gone through a staggering loss often mention feeling overwhelmed by the kindness of others. Grief is an opportunity for us to put love into action by comforting those we care about. Since we cannot avoid loss, the blessing that comes is the sincere comfort others bring.