At first, the meaning of this beatitude seems obvious, unlike some of the other beatitudes, which embody opposing ideas. If someone is grieving a lost family member or friend, we understand that they will feel blessed – grateful – to have people around them, their community, to comfort them. And, people of faith will turn to their beliefs for comfort, such as seeing their loved one again in the afterlife or knowing it was part of God’s plan.
But we don’t mourn only the passing of loved ones. Mourning can also be regret or sadness about a different kind of loss. Across the world, people whose lives have not been lost, but whose lives have been destroyed by natural disasters and war, mourn. Some of us may regret previous behaviors or decisions: not taking advantage of certain opportunities, life choices we made, not being there for someone who needed us.
Where are the blessings in these situations? Where is the comfort? Mourning can be a manifestation of how much we love – a person, people, life, ourselves. And, mourning can make us vulnerable and open to possibilities. And maybe mourning can even make us wise.
