Blessed are those who mourn.

Editor’s Note: UGM’s theme for 2013 is taken from the prophecy regarding Christ’s work in Isaiah 61:1-3. We’ve been looking at how God accomplishes his purposes within and through the Union Gospel Mission. In January, we focused on the words “to proclaim good news to the poor;” in February, “to bind up the brokenhearted;” in March, “to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners;” and for April, we’re diving into the phrase “comfort for those who mourn.”

Isaiah 61:2 and Matthew 5:4 both speak of those who mourn being comforted. The difference in the verses is that, in Matthew, Jesus calls “blessed” the ones who mourn. If I were to ask most of our men in recovery here at UGM if they feel “blessed” in their mourning, they would probably all answer with a resounding “NO!”  Each of the men who comes into our program comes with various issues. The addictions are varied: alcohol, drugs, sex, and relationships are just a few of the things our men are carrying as they walk through the doors of the Mission. But one burden they all share is mourning the things they have lost. Part of the addictive cycle is the need to escape the wreckage caused by the addiction. Relationships, jobs, recreation, families and a basic enjoyment of life have all taken a backseat to their addiction for years. As they get clean and sober, they begin to face the devastation, and the grief can be overwhelming.

Safe to mourn

A huge part of UGM’s recovery programs is creating a safe place for mourning what has been lost. After our men have been here for awhile, they realize they don’t have to do this on their own. Usually, this is a huge revelation, and it takes time to sink in. Often, the first step is appreciating and trusting the caring community that surrounds them. Then they begin to see that community as the Body of Christ pointing them toward Someone whose love is both unlimited and unconditional. Not only does God want to comfort them in their mourning, He is actually the loving Father most of our men never had.

When Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn; for they will be comforted,” He was making a promise.  The promise was fulfilled when Jesus ascended into heaven and the Comforter came in the form of the Holy Spirit. He came with power, and here at UGM, we see that power manifested in the lives of men in recovery. The Holy Spirit’s power transforms lives.

Blessed?

As the men experience God’s comfort in their mourning, they open up to that transformation. Then and only then do they begin to see the “blessed” part of the mourning, and they realize they couldn’t have gotten to the “blessed” without the “mourning.”

In order to be joyful, they had to mourn. In order to share in the kingdom of God, they had to mourn.  God’s kingdom is like that.  We must be weak to be strong. We must be last to be first. We must mourn to be blessed. It’s how God’s kingdom operates. It’s how lives are transformed. And that’s what God’s Kingdom is all about.

~ Mike Sholtz, Men’s Recovery counselor