Blessed Are Those Who Mourn

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted!
~ Matthew 5:4

There are two kinds of mourning. The first is the kind that has lost hope, that has become distrustful of love and Truth. This eats away and destroys man from within. But there is also a mourning occasioned by the shattering encounter with Jesus. This mourning heals, because it teaches man to hope and love again.

In Scripture, we have live examples of both. Judas was the first: struck by horror at his own fall, he no longer dares to hope, and hangs himself in despair. St. Peter was the example of the second kind: struck by Our Lord’s gaze, he bursts into healing tears that plows the soil of his soul. He begins anew and is renewed with spirit, leading the other apostles and heading the Church as Christ’s vicar.

In real life, I have seen both Judases and Peters in my (mental health counselling) clients. Most of them are somewhere in between, struggling between both types of mourning. May those who mourn in despair seek the face of our Lord, and may they be comforted by His holy gaze and rise up to new hope.

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Originally published at Instagram.
Painting: Raphael, Christ’s Charge to Peter (1515-1516)

Noel Ethan Tan

Noel Ethan Tan

Noel is a Singaporean working as a rehabilitation counsellor at ACC(S) Psychiatric Rehabilitation Centre. He is currently doing a part-time Masters Program in Counselling and Guidance at NTU, Singapore. In his church ministry, Noel is currently serving in a young adults' Catholic community called Anawim that does Bible Exegesis. Noel is also pursuing a Certificate in Theology at the Catholic Theological Institute of Singapore. His favorite Bible verse is 1 Peter 3:15 — “In your hearts, reverence Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to make a defense to any who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, but do it with gentleness and reverence.”

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