Veritas PH

The WORD. The TRUTH.

Blessed are those who mourn

SHARE THE TRUTH

 217 total views

For the second time since last year, all roads do not lead to the cemeteries this November 1-2 due to the pandemic. While there is still that annual exodus to the provinces, the government has preferred to keep cemeteries closed despite the many casualties of COVID-19 while allowing malls and other establishments to operate, including the opening this week of favorite destinations of Baguio and Tagaytay.

Most unkind of all is how thousands of people were allowed including children to visit for several days Manila Bay’s newest attraction, the dolomite beach while cemeteries remain closed and religious gatherings still limited as this government is more concerned in “resurrecting” the economy than considering as “essential” at this time the people’s religious and spiritual needs.

And so, we mourn for the second straight year this November 1 and 2 not only for our departed loved ones but for the benighted souls of this Administration.

But, have a heart as we find solace and comfort in Jesus Christ who encourages us every year on this first day of November with his teachings on the Beatitudes which we hear proclaimed every Solemnity of All Saints. The Beatitudes reveal the mystery of Jesus Christ who invites us to enter into a communion in him by expressing also the meaning of being his disciples. Jesus is in fact every Beatitude – the one who is truly poor in spirit, the first to be persecuted, the one with a clean heart, and the peacemaker.

For this year, let us reflect on the second beatitude which we find very close to our situation under the COVID-19 pandemic as most of us have lost a family member or friends.

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

Matthew 5:1-4


Photo by Irina Anastasiu on Pexels.com

In a world that thrives and promotes so much fun and merry-making, our second beatitude is difficult to understand or even grasp in this time of the pandemic. What is “blessed” with grieving and mourning when you have lost a loved one so suddenly, without having the chance to even see them before they were cremated?

There are two kinds of mourning that the gospels offer us exemplified by the two most extreme of the Apostles, Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus and, Simon Peter who denied the Lord thrice (see “Jesus of Nazareth” by Pope emeritus Benedict XVI, The Beatitudes, pp.86-89).

The first kind of mourning as shown by Judas Iscariot is when one has lost hope, succumbing to the miseries of losing a beloved and becomes mistrustful of love and of truth that leads to self-destruction. It is the worst kind of mourning that eats away and destroys man within just like Judas Iscariot who hanged himself.

Then Judas, his betrayer, seeing that Jesus had been condemned, deeply regretted what he had done. He returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying “I have sinned in betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? Look to it yourself.” Flinging the money into the temple, he departed and went off and hanged himself.

Matthew 27:3-5

The second kind of mourning that Jesus must be referring to as “blessed” which leads to salvation is when the mourning is caused by an encounter with the truth that leads to conversion like what happened to Simon Peter who was struck by the gaze of Jesus that he burst into healing tears and cleansed his soul to enable him to begin anew in his life in the Lord.

Just as he was saying this, the cock crowed, and the Lord turned and looked at Peter; and Peter remembered the word of the Lord… He went out and began to weep bitterly.

Luke 22:60-61, 62

This will have its lovely conclusion eight days after Easter before Jesus ascended into heaven when he asked Simon Peter thrice, “Do you love me?” (Jn.21:15ff.) to remind him of that episode that eventually pushed him to follow Christ unreservedly “by taking care of his sheep”.


Blessed are those who weep because first of all, they have love in their hearts. Deaths and bad news that befall our loved ones sadden us, even jolt us with deep pain that move us to console them, to suffer with them, and to be one with them by reconnecting with them and their loved ones like when we go to a funeral or a wake.

This did not happen with Judas Iscariot. The little love he had in his heart when he realized his sin was completely wiped out when he chose to surrender totally to evil, finding no more hope for forgiveness and reconciliation with Jesus. When grief becomes so overpowering and consuming, it totally wipes out the embers of love left in our hearts and like Judas, that is when we choose to die miserably sad and separated from God who is love.

Never lose hope in Jesus. Seek that love in your heart. Seek Jesus in that tiny voice telling you to always come home to him. Do not be shy nor ashamed of your loss and failure. Keep that fire of love in Jesus burning.


Blessed are those who weep because more than the love they have in their hearts, they have been loved first of all. We weep and grieve the death of a beloved family member or relative or friend because of the love they have given us, of the kindness they have shown us, and the care they have lavished us.

Simon Peter did not merely have love in his heart. Luke dramatically described to us how Peter’s eyes met the merciful and loving eyes of Jesus while he was denying the Lord. It must have struck him so hard that immediately he felt contrition for his sin, feeling strongly the need to reform himself and reconnect with the Lord. He could not let the imperfect love he has in his heart to just go to waste that is why when he wept bitterly on that Holy Thursday evening, it was not the end but the beginning of another chapter in his beautiful story of love for Jesus. It was precisely what he meant when he told Jesus at Tiberias, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you” (Jn.21:17) – that despite his weaknesses and failures, he loves Jesus, he tries so hard to love Jesus in his little ways.

When in the midst of great sufferings and pain specially after we have sinned or we have lost a loved one, we are blessed as we mourn and grieve because that is when we realize strongly our weakness and limitations that we reach out to God, to be nearer to him. To desire God in itself is always a grace and a blessing too!


Photo by author, 2018.

Blessed are those who mourn because that is when we actually stand for what is true and good, for what is just and right.

When we weep, it does not mean we have lost; in fact, even in the face of apparent loss like Jesus on the Cross, mourning is the most firm expression of our belief in what is right and just, and what is true and good.

The best scene for this kind of blessed mourning that leads to salvation is found at the death of Jesus Christ where his Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary stood by the foot of his Cross with her cousin Mary the wife of Clopas, Mary Magdalene, and the beloved disciple John (Ibid.,p. 87).

By standing at the foot of the Cross and later carrying in her arms the dead body of her Son Jesus Christ called La Pieta, Mary showed us that mourning is blessed because it is the strongest depiction of our solidarity with God, of our going against evil and sin.

In this world when conformity to whatever “everyone is doing” is the rule of the game like corruption, dishonesty, infidelity, lies and manipulation of people, mourning and weeping with the victims of oppression and persecution can be our strongest signs of protest and resistance against the prevailing evils of our time.

When we weep and mourn for victims of violence and evil, that is when we become God’s instruments of his comfort to his people. From the Latin words cum fortis “with strength”, to comfort means to strengthen those persecuted or oppressed or those facing intense sufferings and tests.

When we weep, when we grieve and mourn over a lost beloved or a lost cause, that is when God comforts us, when he makes us stronger in resisting evil and sin.

Ultimately, that is when our mourning leads to salvation, that is why blessed are those who mourn and weep.


What are your griefs today?

What do you mourn?

Blessed are you in your weeping not only in having love in your heart but most of all, for being loved. Dwell in the love of God in Jesus Christ like the saints who have gone ahead of us, resisting all evils and temptations to sin for the Lord comforts us his people always. Amen.

A blessed All Saints’ Day to you!

ads
2
3
4
previous arrow
next arrow

Veritas Editorial

Rev. Fr. Anton CT Pascual

Rev. Fr. Anton CT Pascual

President of Radio Veritas

Job Mismatches

 7,692 total views

 7,692 total views “Job-skills mismatches”, Kapanalig ito ang malaking problema sa Pilipinas na hindi pa rin natutugunan ng pamahalaan at education sector. Sa pag-aaral ng Philippine Business for Education (PBEd), malaki ang ambag ng “job-skills mismatches” sa umployment at underemployment sa bansa kung saan hindi napapakinabangan ang potensyal ng young workforce. Ayon sa Commission on Higher

Read More »

Mining

 14,025 total views

 14,025 total views Kapanalig, nararanasan natin sa Pilipinas maging sa buong mundo ang “climate crisis” na dulot ng climate change o nagbabagong panahon. Ang Pilipinas bilang tropical country ay dumaranas ng mahigit sa 20-bagyo kada taon na nagdudulot ng matinding pinsala sa ari-arian, kabuhayan at buhay ng mga Pilipino. Ngunit sa kabila ng banta ng climate

Read More »

Kasabwat sa patayan

 18,639 total views

 18,639 total views Mga Kapanalig, ganoon na lamang ba kababa ang pagpapahalaga natin sa buhay ng ating kapwa-tao na handa natin itong bawiin ng mga iniluluklok nating berdugo sa ngalan ng pagkakaroon ng payapa at ligtas na kapaligiran? Ganyan kasi ang mapapansin sa mga sentimiyento ng ilan nating kababayan habang isinasagawa ng Senate Blue Ribbon Subcommittee

Read More »

Walang magagawa o hindi handa?

 20,200 total views

 20,200 total views Mga Kapanalig, kasabay ng malakas na ulang dala ng Bagyong Kristine dalawang linggo na ang nakalilipas ang buhos ng batikos kay Pangulong Bongbong Marcos Jr.  Ika-23 ng Oktubre, kasagsagan ng pananalasa ng bagyo, nang bigyan ng situation briefing ng mga pinuno at kinatawan ng iba’t ibang ahensya si PBBM. Papalapit na noon ang

Read More »

Pagtulong na gumagalang sa dignidad

 36,100 total views

 36,100 total views Mga Kapanalig, bumuhos ang tulong sa mga kababayan nating lubhang naapektuhan ng Bagyong Kristine. Mula sa mga pribadong indibidwal at organisasyon hanggang sa mga ahensya ng ating gobyerno, sinubukang maparatingan ng tulong ang mga pamilyang nawalan ng bahay, kabuhayan, at maging ng mga mahal sa buhay. Nakalulungkot lang na may mga pulitikong sinamantala

Read More »
catholink
Shadow
truthshop
Shadow

Related Story

Latest Blog
Rev. Fr. Nicanor Lalog II

From fear of the Lord to love of God and neighbors

 1,890 total views

 1,890 total views The Lord Is My Chef Sunday Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B, 03 November 2024 Deuteronomy 6:2-6 ><}}}}*> Hebrews 7:23-28 ><}}}}*> Mark 12:28-34 Photo by author, river at the back of Nagsasa Cove, San Antonio, Zambales, 19 October 2024. Jesus finally entered

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Fr. Nicanor Lalog II

Mga pamahiin at kaalaman turo sa atin ng paglalamay sa patay

 1,896 total views

 1,896 total views Lawiswis ng Salita ni P. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Ika-01 ng Nobyembre 2024 Larawan kuha ng may-akda, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 20 Marso 2024. Salamuch sa mainit na pagtanggap sa ating nakaraang lathalaing nagpapaliwanag sa ilang mga pamahiin sa paglalamay sa patay. Sa ating pagsisikap na tuntunin pinagmulan ng mga pamahiin sa

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Fr. Nicanor Lalog II

Sa buhay at kamatayan, bulaklak nagpapahayag ng buhay

 1,896 total views

 1,896 total views Lawiswis ng Salita ni P. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Ika-31 ng Oktubre 2024 Larawan kuha ni G. Jim Marpa, 2018. “Say it with flowers” ang marahil isa na sa mga pinakamabisa at totoong pagpapahayag ng saloobin sa lahat ng pagkakataon. Wala ka na talagang sasabihin pa kapag ikaw ay nagbigay ng bulaklak kanino

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Fr. Nicanor Lalog II

Lihim ng mga pamahiin sa lamayan

 1,896 total views

 1,896 total views Lawiswis ng Salita ni P. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Ika-30 ng Oktubre 2024 Larawan kuha ng may-akda, St. Scholastica Retreat House, Tagaytay City, Agosto 2024. Heto na naman ang panahon ng maraming pagtatanong at pagpapaliwanag sa ating mga pamahiin ukol sa paglalamay sa mga patay. Matagal ko nang binalak isulat mga ito nang

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Fr. Nicanor Lalog II

Friday I’m in love, Part 3

 1,897 total views

 1,897 total views Quiet Storm by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, 29 October 2024 Photo by author, entering the Nagsasa Cove in San Antonio, Zambales, 19 October 2024. Ihave always imagined God must be like Jewish director Steven Spielberg. According to an article I have read long ago, Spielberg would always hide sets of important scenes

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Fr. Nicanor Lalog II

Seeing Jesus

 4,001 total views

 4,001 total views The Lord Is My Chef Sunday Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B, 27 October 2024 Jeremiah 31:7-9 ><}}}}*> Hebrews 5:1-6 ><}}}}*> Mark 10:46-52 Photo by author, Nagsasa Cove, San Antonio, Zambales, 19 October 2024. “Seeing” is a word with so many meanings

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Fr. Nicanor Lalog II

The teacher is the lesson

 4,655 total views

 4,655 total views Quiet Storm by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, 24 October 2024 Photo by Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News, 27 July 2024. Classes are still suspended due to severe tropical storm Kristine. While scrolling through Facebook, I chanced upon a funny post supposed to be the cry of many employees. And teachers as well: “We are

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Fr. Nicanor Lalog II

Is this meant for us or for everyone?

 4,655 total views

 4,655 total views The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Wednesday, Memorial of St. John of Capistrano, Priest, 23 October 2024 Ephesians 3:2-12 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Luke 12:39-48 Photo by author, Pampanga, September 2024. Lord Jesus, many times I find myself like Peter asking You so often

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Fr. Nicanor Lalog II

Unity in Christ

 4,653 total views

 4,653 total views The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Tuesday, Memorial of St. John Paul II, Pope, 22 October 2024 Ephesians 2:1-10 <*[[[[>< + ><]]]]*> Luke 12:35-38 Photo by author, mountain range off the coast of Nagsasa Cove, San Antonio, Zambales, 19 October 2024. Glory to

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Fr. Nicanor Lalog II

We are God’s handiwork

 4,653 total views

 4,653 total views The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Monday in the Twenty-ninth Week of Ordinary Time, Year II, 21 October 2024 Ephesians 2:1-10 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Luke 12:13-21 Photo by author, the pristine Nagsasa Cove in San Antonio, Zambales, 19 October 2024. Your words today,

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Fr. Nicanor Lalog II

When we do not know what “we want”

 4,653 total views

 4,653 total views The Lord Is My Chef Sunday Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B, 20 October 2024 Isaiah 53:10-11 ><}}}}*> Hebrews 4:14-16 ><}}}}*> Mark 10:35-45 The Jewish Cemetery of Mount of Olives facing the Eastern Gate of Jerusalem where the Messiah is believed would

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Fr. Nicanor Lalog II

Only One

 4,653 total views

 4,653 total views The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Friday, Feast of St. Luke, Evangelist, 18 October 2024 2 Timothy 4:10-17 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Luke 10:1-9 Photo by Dra. Mylene A. Santos, MD, an orange-bellied flowerpecker (Dicaeum trigonostigma), December 2023. Beloved: Demas, enamored of the present

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Fr. Nicanor Lalog II

Led by the Holy Spirit

 4,653 total views

 4,653 total views The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Wednesday in the Twenty-eighth Week of Ordinary Time Year II, 16 October 2024 Galatians 5:18-25 ><))))*> + ><))))*> + ><))))*> Luke 11:42-46 Photo by author, Fatima Ave., Valenzuela City, 25 July 2024. Lead and guide us, O

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Fr. Nicanor Lalog II

Faith working through love

 4,653 total views

 4,653 total views The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Tuesday, Memorial of St. Teresa of Avila, Virgin & Doctor of the Church, 15 October 2024 Galatians 5:1-6 ><]]]]’> + ><]]]]’> + ><]]]]’> Luke 11:37-41 Photo by author, somewhere in Pampanga, August 2024. What a wonderful Saint

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Fr. Nicanor Lalog II

Evil generation

 8,217 total views

 8,217 total views The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Monday in the Twenty-eighth Week of Ordinary Time, Year II, 14 October 2024 Galatians 4:22-24, 26-27, 31-5:1 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Luke 11:29-32 Photo by Ms. April Oliveros at Mt. Pulag, March 2023. While still more people gathered

Read More »

Latest Blogs

Scroll to Top