Jesus offers true comfort for the mourners. He said those who mourn will be happy and blessed because they'll be comforted. This is good news, but to what kind of mourners does it apply? Just anybody who is sad?

People mourn at the death or their loss of a loved one. We may not realize it, but we also mourn when our dreams don't come true, or when someone fails to keep a promise.

What about the sorry-for-our-sins, the true repentance that comes upon us when we realize that we have fallen far short of God's lovely and perfect standard of holiness? When we know we deserve His wrath and punishment? I know from other passages that God often calls for that kind of mourning.

It is when we are really ready to admit our guilt and shame that we are ready to accept (or reject) his offer of forgiveness and wholeness. When we do, the relief, the joy, and the comfort are tremendous blessings. God really does give true comfort us the mourners then!

By His Holy Spirit He comforts us too, if we are His adopted children, when we are bereaved or deeply hurt and disappointed.

Very often, it is only after we have been comforted by God, that we can empathize with others' pain, and offer them any measure of comfort. This way, God's comfort is not just a pat on the head or a kiss to make it better, but a real blessed happiness that we can pass on to others as a valuable gift.