The writer of Ecclesiastes notes in Chapter 3:4 that there is “…. time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;”. Later in the Beatitudes Jesus reminds us that, “Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted.” We mourn when we experience any kind of loss. Of course, it is more profound and deep depending on the significance of our loss. We mourn differently over the loss of a routine than we would the loss of a spouse. Yet Jesus and the teacher of Ecclesiastes reminds us that mourning is a good and timely thing.
Again, in Ecclesiastes chapter 7v. 3 he writes,” Sorrow is better than laughter for by sadness of face the heart is made glad”. How could this be? Sorrow better than laughter? Well, maybe. Let me explain. What the Beatitudes and Ecclesiastes have in common is that they both share a common origin in what’s known as the Wisdom literature of the Bible. In wisdom literature like Proverbs we are told if we do right we will be blessed, but if we do wrong we will be punished. Simple. But Ecclesiastes and Job, two other wisdom books, reminds us that life doesn’t always work that way. Proverbs, therefore, are not promises but short sayings about how life works much of the time. A lot like, “Rain before seven ends by eleven”. Yeah, mostly true - but not all the time. The reason for the discrepancy between Proverbs and Job or Ecclesiastes is that we live on the other side of Eden. We were created to live in a perfect world, but sin messed everything up. So we mourn, we experience loss, we cry, we are broken. But the very act of mourning, reminds us that because of Christ, the curse is being reversed and we will be brought back to Eden in a new heaven and earth where there is no more crying or pain or loss. So even though we mourn, the very experience of loss is designed to gladden us with the assurance that one day soon, things will be different.
Today, most of us are experiencing the loss of routine, the loss of the familiar because of the restrictions brought on by COVID 19. But, it ought to remind us that better days are coming soon! “Blessed are those that mourn, for they shall be comforted.” To feel the discomfort of living this side of Eden is to look forward in faith to the day we enter the new heaven and earth. Hallelujah!