As we continue our Lent reflections on the Christian attitude on our journey to Holy Week and Easter, we are confronted with the uncomfortable truth of our human frailty and sin. We can all identify with what St Paul writes when he says, I don’t do the good I want to do; instead, I do the evil I do not want to do… (Romans 7:19). This leads him to holy sorrow as he cries out, “What an unhappy man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is taking me to death…?” (v 24).
Jesus proclaimed a blessing on those who like Paul mourn about their state of spiritual poverty before God’s holy commandments. He said to his disciples, “Blessed are those that mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5: 4). The comfort we receive is from the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who is called the Father of mercies and God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1: 3).
The Holy Spirit is also called the Comforter who comes alongside those who are mourning and grieving to comfort and strengthen them in their time of trouble. There are currently millions of people in Israel, Gaza and many other regions of the world who are mourning the loss of loved ones and are afflicted by anxiety, trauma, and pain. We pray that they will encounter the love and comfort of the Holy Spirit in their time of mourning and that we will be able to comfort those we know who are grieving with the same comfort that we have received from the God of comfort and grace.
Dear Lord, we mourn for the frailty and weakness in our lives that keeps us trapped in sinful habits and thinking, and give thanks that Jesus rescues us from our sinful nature. We thank you that you promise to bless those who mourn with the comfort that you alone can provide through our Lord Jesus Christ and pray that your Holy Spirit will teach us and lead us in the path of true freedom.
We also pray for all those mourning the loss of loved ones at this time and ask you to comfort and sustain them by your Holy Spirit and grant them peace. We ask this in the name of the God of all comfort and grace, Amen!
