The stories of Jesus are in four books of the Bible; Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. These books are called 'Gospels', by Christians because they offer the 'good news' about Jesus, to those who read them. One story about Jesus is that he travelled up a mountain to pass on a lot of information to those with him about what life could be like. It is called 'The Sermon on the mount.' It begins with a list of blessings that people can expect. The name for these blessings is 'The Beatitudes. There are 8 main ones and another refering to persecution.
Today I have chosen this one.
''Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted' Matthew 5 verse 4
There are events and problems that make us all unhappy. It may be illness, bereavement, loneliness, poverty, loss of job - the list is endless. The promise in this verse of the gospel is that you will be comforted. In order for the blessing to work though you have to believe that you will be comforted and so you must ask for the help of God.
When my brother died aged only 38 all of our family were devastated, I actually stood in the garden and shouted at God; an unusual way to ask for help that probably woke the neighbours as it was the middle of the night. I was really asking for help and for understanding. Gradually, slowly, comfort was given and accepted. A little old lady who knew my parents came to speak to me at the funeral. She held my hand and looked into my eyes. 'I know what it is like to lose a brother, I will be thinking of you.' She knew what it was like and she had made a personal attempt to empathise. I have never forgotten her.
Other people provide comfort if you ask, and for me, music offers comfort. It is the knowlege that something higher and more powerful than any individual, has promised comfort. That is the starting point to hold you through deep sadness.