«Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted» (Matthew 5:4, NIV).
Mourners were women who were hired to cry at burials. It was a custom not only in the Jewish nation, but also in the Egyptian nation and other civilizations in which it is still practiced today, like in Mexico.
One mourner gave the sad pitch for the rest to follow, according to the type of death.
But when speaking about mourning in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus wasn’t referring to those women. And he wasn’t referring to crying because of melancholy or pity.
It’s related to sincere repentance, which is in turn aware of the cleansing Christ can bring about through forgiveness, and the sadness that comes with trials, which will later turn into joy.
«The trials of life are God’s workmen, to remove the impurities and roughness from our character. Their hewing, squaring, and chiseling, their burnishing and polishing, is a painful process; it is hard to be pressed down to the grinding wheel. But the stone is brought forth prepared to fill its place in the heavenly temple. Upon no useless material does the Master bestow such careful, thorough work» (Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, ch. 2, p. 10).
God doesn’t waste our pain. He can use it and make it a blessing later on in ways we don’t even imagine.
«God would not have us remain pressed down by dumb sorrow. . . . He would have us look up and behold His dear face of love. The blessed Saviour stands by many whose eyes are so blinded by tears that they do not discern Him. . . We may keep the heart stayed upon Him and meditate upon His loving-kindness all the day. He will lift the soul above the daily sorrow and perplexity, into a realm of peace» (ibid, p. 12).
Today we can also join Jesus in feeling compassion for the world’s suffering and, without letting our eyes be blinded by tears, do something for humans who are in pain.
Maybe you aren’t crying today, but spend time this Sabbath thinking about how the things that make you sad can become a blessing in your life and the lives of others. The salt you shed in your tears can later become the salt of the earth.