This particular beatitude alludes to individuals who feel deeply sad, not only because of their own losses but because of the sins, wrongdoings, and suffering of the whole world. Grieving is a sign of a compassionate soul which does not allow itself to become insensitive to suffering. According to textbook Your Life In Christ (pp. 126-128), mourning is blessed because sorrow enables people to comprehend the true implications of sin and suffering, and unite with other sufferers. As is stressed in the textbook, "the consolation you receive following deep sorrow is much greater than the sorrow itself"(pg 126) because it represents God's unconditional love. Jesus assures those who grieve with others that God's comfort and peace await them at the end.
- Contemporary Figure: Joe Biden
President Joe Biden is an example of a secular modern-day leader who has always been acknowledged due to his ability to be vulnerable and grieve publicly. With personal experiences involving significant losses, having lost both his wife and daughter to a tragic car accident in 1972, as well as his son Beau to cancer, he has always openly used his own experience of sorrow to show compassion. He uses his personal experiences during national tragedies by showing how to grieve. Speaking about grief in a speech, President Biden stated, "The day will come when the memory of your loved one brings a smile to your lips before it brings a tear to your eye."
- Personal Application:
This beatitude can be practiced through becoming a support system for those friends or classmates who have faced a difficult situation. Instead of ignoring them due to awkwardness, last semester when my friend had lost their grandfather, I sat with them, listened to their stories, and made them understand that it is fine to cry.
Create Your Own Website With Webador