New Warrior Ministries!: Blessed are they that mourn, Homily on St. Matthew by St. John Chrysostom

Homily XV

Mat. V. 1, 2

4. Now having begun, as you see, where most need was, He proceeds to

   another commandment, one which seems to be opposed to the judgment of

   the whole world. For whereas all think that they who rejoice are

   enviable, those in dejection, poverty, and mourning, wretched, He calls

   these blessed rather than those; saying thus,

   "Blessed are they that mourn." [598]

   Yet surely all men call them miserable. For therefore He wrought the

   miracles beforehand, that in such enactments as these He might be

   entitled to credit.

   And here too again he designated not simply all that mourn, but all

   that do so for sins: since surely that other kind of mourning is

   forbidden, and that earnestly, which relates to anything of this life.

   This Paul also clearly declared, when he said, "The sorrow of the world

   works death, but godly sorrow works repentance unto salvation, not

   to be repented of." [599]

   These then He too Himself calls blessed, whose sorrow is of that kind;

   yet not simply them that sorrow did He designate, but them that sorrow

   intensely. Therefore He did not say, "they that sorrow," but "they that

   mourn." For this commandment again is fitted to teach us entire

   self-control. For if those who grieve for children, or wife, or any

   other relation gone from them, have no fondness for gain or pleasure

   during that period of their sorrow; if they aim not at glory, are not

   provoked by insults, nor led captive by envy, nor beset by any other

   passion, their grief alone wholly possessing them; much more will they

   who mourn for their own sins, as they ought to mourn, show forth a

   self-denial greater than this.

   Next, what is the reward for these? "For they shall be comforted,"

   said He.

   Where shall they be comforted! tell me. Both here and there. For since

   the thing enjoined was exceeding burthensome and galling, He promised

   to give that, which most of all made it light. Wherefore, if you will

   be comforted, mourn: and think not this a dark saying. For when God

   does comfort, though sorrows come upon you by thousands like

   snow-flakes, you will be above them all. Since in truth, as the

   returns which God gives are always far greater than our labors; so He

   has wrought in this case, declaring them that mourn to be blessed, not

   after the value of what they do, but after His own love towards man.

   For they that mourn, mourn for misdoings, and to such it is enough to

   enjoy forgiveness, and obtain wherewith to answer for themselves. But

   forasmuch as He is full of love towards man, He does not limit His

   recompense either to the removal of our punishments, or to the

   deliverance from our sins, but He makes them even blessed, and imparts

   to them abundant consolation.

   But He bids us mourn, not only for our own, but also for other men's

   misdoings. And of this temper were the souls of the saints: such was

   that of Moses, of Paul, of David; yea, all these many times mourned for

   evils not their own.

May you be greatly blessed,

+William

Monk Michael

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