Jesus’ message includes several teachings for the heart—the feeling dimension of the human personality. The accent is on joy, but there remains the question of how Jesus processed a range of emotions from sadness, through distress, suffering, grieving, and mourning, to extreme affliction. If he had not taken the time to go through such times authentically, but instead simply pushed the happy button, his joy would have been superficial and forced. It cannot blossom in persons who suppress sorrow.
I believe that Jesus’ teaching on going through sadness, suffering, grieving, and affliction reveals a personal discovery of his own. “Happy are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
Mourning can be for self or others. Let’s begin with oneself. In Gethsemane before his arrest, trials, and crucifixion, Jesus went through unfathomable agony. His soul needed confirmation clear and strong that the path ahead was his Father’s will. Three times he prayed. Then an angel came and strengthened him.
Most of us do not have an angel come to strengthen us. At least we are not aware of it. But we do have the spirit of God within. That’s where we can most readily experience the strength and comfort. That’s where the happiness begins to break through.
Now consider mourning for others in an everyday way. You see a person in distress; and you are sensitive and responsive to human need. When you decide and act, you get the encouragement and reinforcement of God’s presence with you. When this emotionally attuned, compassionate service becomes a habit, happiness also becomes normal for you.
Now turn to an extreme case. When Jesus was coming into Jerusalem for the last time, he looked down on the city, and said, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!” Jesus is mourning past outrages and persistent refusals. This is setting in Luke 19; but in Matthew 23, the same passage is repeated, but the preceding context makes it clear that Jesus was mourning for the devastation that would come upon the city in the future after he and his message of truth and love would have been finally rejected.
Today’s global crisis causes many events that are occasions for mourning. The times make for a high number of spiritual casualties—lost souls who despair of their personal future and see no hope for a great planetary destiny.
Watch the 8:37 video or listen to the podcast episode.
Some of them will be fortunate enough to meet a God-knowing person like you. You and Jesus know that in God, “all things work together for good.” Not all things are good. But sooner or later, God and those who work with God will complete their work of making the best of some bad action or event. Then the goodness of God will be evident not only in the soul, but also in the world. Lost souls will feel your sensitive empathy and compassionate response; your happiness and comfort will give them a wonderful opportunity to experience divinity. Your friendship is introducing them to the Friend. Depending on the state of their receptivity, they may even start seeking and finding ways in which the universe is friendly.
Image credit. Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons). James Tissot, Jesus wept (Jesus pleura), between 1886 and 1894. Brooklyn Museum.
Well, taught, Jeff. You merged what has been written into a new, coherent whole. I learned from this.