Blessed are those who mourn

Gamma Gamaliel

I don't know whether this has come up in Kerygmania before but I am interested in the Beatitude, 'Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.'

I am interested in exploring the 'Kerygmanic' aspects rather than the Epiphanous' one's, although Epiphanies is there as a bolt-hole if I or others need it.

There seem several interpretations out there that, inevitably, reflect the theological predilection of those offering explanations.

As far as I can make out these tend to include one or other or a combination of the following:

- Christ is referring to mourning over our sins.
- If we are bereaved it's the worst that can happen to us but we can be comforted by knowing that God is with us nevertheless.
- Our current sufferings are nothing in comparison with the 'eternal weight of glory' that will one day be revealed.
- Though we mourn now we will be comforted hereafter.

There may be others.

What think ye?

How does this Beatitude fit with the others and the overall context?

How should we understand and apply it today?

alienfromzog

I wonder these days if partly we should understand it through this great truth:

Grief is the price we pay for love.* (see also John 11:35).

At a funeral nearly two decades ago, I held on tight to a friend who had just become a widow at 25 and whispered "it's meant to hurt this much." It's the same truth.

Those that don't love, who care only for themselves will never mourn.

It could only ever be part of the answer but I wonder if it is part.

AFZ

*Queen Elizabeth II, 12th September 2001. I'd love to know who wrote that line for her.

Boogie

Goodness @alienfromzog, those are wise words, thank you.

Gamma Gamaliel

Indeed. I remember the late Queen saying that and often remember them.

Your reminding me of them is certainly welcome this morning, @alienfromzog as it would have been our 31st wedding anniversary.

I am sure you are right that this is part of the meaning / application we should take from it. There will be others.

alienfromzog

Thank you both.

jay_emm

The whole beatitudes has an element of the paradoxical. Blessed are the unblessed for they will be blessed.
And those who mourn does fit into that.

You could categorise those who mourn into three broad overlapping groups.
Those who mourn characteristically, either blessed are the caring (as described above) or blessed be the theatrical (which probably works best as a truism, and not as a beatitude)
Those who have a individual loss
or a (divisive) social issue (the roman occupation being the obvious one).

Similarly on all the beatitudes we have the anticipated delivery of the promise. Is it a really corny advertisment for bereavement group after the meeting, inspirational humanism, anticipating the raising miracles, an unfulfilled human plan, about the cross, heavenly restoration .

As a slight long shot Matthew has mouring in Bethlehem. Depending on what Jesus had been told/believed. I don't think it works (saying "sorry Bethlehem, but at least you have me", is a bit arrogant). But on the other hand, Id have survivors guilt of some kind.

Merry Vole

If you are referring to the Massacre of the Innocents then I agree. Matthew puts the Beatitudes very shortly after this and mourning is mentioned as an OT quote. Isn't it possible that if such a massacre really happened then there would be people alive, particularly women, who remembered it and were still mourning?

Telford

I have mourned and I have been comforted.

ChastMastr

I’m mainly thinking “ Though we mourn now we will be comforted hereafter.” Though other meanings can be there too.

Nick Tamen

I have mentioned the Bible Project Podcast before. In 2024, they’ve been working, bit by bit, through the Sermon on the Mount. As part of that, they’ve spent a fair amount of time discussing the cultural context—Jesus was speaking to people, most of whom were not at the top of society, in a country occupied by a foreign power. That has relevance to much of what he says in the sermon.

They spent an entire episode talking about the meaning of the word “blessed” in the Beatitudes. The Greek word used here, they said, is makarios. In the Septuagint, that’s not the word used to translate the Hebrew berakah (“blessed”). Rather, it’s the word used to translate the Hebrew ashrey, which has a related but different meaning. They note one scholar who says “Ashrey is a description of a state of happiness or privilege or fortune that's on someone that's being observed by another, by a bystander who isn't the one providing or bringing about the blessing. In the Hebrew Bible, one never prays to become ashrey.” Ashrey is “a wisdom word that's aimed at persuading the listener to see that a certain way of life is the blessed ideal state.”

They also note that many rabbis and communities of the time had sayings about who was ashrey. As examples, from the Dead Sea Scrolls: “Ashrey is the one with a pure heart who does not slander with his tongue. Ashrey are those who adhere to the laws of Torah and do not adhere to the distorted paths. Ashrey are those who rejoice in wisdom, who do not have outbursts of foolishness.” Or from Sirach: “Ashrey is the one who rejoices in his children.” “Ashrey is the one who lives to see the downfall of his enemies.” “Ashrey is the man who lives with a reasonable wife.” There are also examples in the psalms, including the first line of Psalm 1.

One who is ashrey is, as it were, living the good life, a blessed life, and others can look to them to see what a blessed life looks like.

Jesus, as he does throughout the Gospels, is turning expected values on their head to explain the kingdom of God. The last will be first. The hungry will be fed while the rich are sent away empty. Those who mourn will be comforted because they—the least, the last, the downtrodden, the grieving—matter to God. The point is not the value of mourning. The point is who those who mourn are valued in the kingdom of Heaven.

For anyone interested, the episode on “What Does ‘Blessed’ Mean” can be found here. And the episode where “The Powerless, Grieving, and Unimportant” are discussed can be found here. (Transcripts for those who’d rather read the episodes are available on both pages.)