The Sermon on the Mount (Bossuet)/Day 4
Fourth Day
THIRD BEATITUDE
To be a mourner. — Matt. v. 5.
BLESSED are those who mourn.’ Whether they are mourning for their troubles or their sins, they are happy, and shall receive the only true consolation: — which is that of the next life, where ' there shall be no more mourning nor crying,’ and where all tears shall be wiped away. [1]
Abraham said to the wicked rich man, 'Thou didst receive good things in this life, and Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and thou art tormented.’ [2] That is — he is happy, for he suffered patiently; his painful condition often forced him to mourn over excessive misfortunes, and he got no consolation from his fellows: — the pitiless rich man did not even deign to look at him. But because he bore '— the world shall rejoice, and you shall be made sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be changed into joy.' [3] This is our Saviour’s promise to His disciples. Sadness and joy come alternately: he who rejoices shall be afflicted; he who is afflicted shall rejoice. ‘ Blessed,’ then, 'are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted? [4]
But, amongst all who mourn, none shall be sooner consoled than those who weep for their own sins. In every other case, grieving over a trouble, far from being a remedy, only increases the evil itself. Sin is the only evil that can be cured by deploring it. Let us sinners, then, weep without ceasing. Let our eyes be turned into inexhaustible streams, whose incessant flow shall furrow our cheeks, as the Psalmist says. The remission of sins is the fruit of such holy tears. Ah! ten thousand times happy those who mourn their sins! They shall indeed be comforted.
And what of those happy ones, again, who shed tears of pure love and tenderness? Their hearts melt within them, as Holy Scripture says, and seem as though they would flow forth through their eyes. But who can tell us the true cause of such tears — who can explain it? Often those who have actually experienced them cannot tell what has called them forth. It may be now the goodness of a Father, now the condescension of a King; then the absence of a Divine Bridegroom, or the darkness that He leaves in the soul as He withdraws; or yet once more His tender voice, as He returns, calling His faithful spouse. But oftenest of all it is something that no man can tell.