Wednesday 21st February
Read Matthew 5:4
“Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.” (NIVUK)
The good life is promised to those who mourn, to those who are grieved. Are these blessings held out to those who look at life realistically, knowing that death always awaits? Or are they held out to those who know their own sinfulness deeply and grieve at their lowliness before God?
Or, as Augustine argues, are these blessings promised to those who have given up the right to things they held dear in their hearts, things that they embraced whilst captivated by the world and all its delights? Losing these temporal joys, they are promised eternal comfort.
All of these are likely true in some way. There is a true grief found in all those who know how deep their sin is, know that death awaits and know what repentance must look like. But one can’t help but think that when Jesus speaks of the good life, the comfort held out, for those who mourn, He is thinking of His death.
“‘And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.” (Zechariah 12:10) (NIVUK).
The poor in spirit will have a spirit of grace and supplication poured out on them. They will be comforted when they look on the pierced one and mourn…
