Review

How do you handle situations that lead to mourning? Do you self-medicate by taking comfort in food, alcohol, or drugs? Do you distract yourself to avoid thinking about it? Do you seek out God as your Healer or call on His Holy Spirit, the Great Comforter? Maybe you cope by escaping into online personas or seek vicarious relief through the lives of celebrities, athletes or even your own children.

Repent if Necessary

If you have been self-medicating to handle pain, repent and ask God to come into the painful places and heal you. Ask Him to give you direction and support for a different path. Simply talking about it out loud with someone can be a great help. If you have been managing grief or pain through distraction, admit it and come back to God for help. Think of it this way: By refusing to recognize the pain, you miss out on the blessing Jesus describes in this beatitude about mourning.

Return (as necessary)

Ask God to heal whatever hurts in you. Do this day after day – just like other coping mechanism – till you find relief (like the persistent widow in Luke 18:1-8). Some people turn to a bottle, some to a computer, others to food. Choose to turn to God daily, even if you don’t always do it well.

Micro-Meditation

Psalm 119: Immersed in the Word of God

Micro-Meditation

Psalm 119:65-72  9th letter: Teth (ט) 

65. Do good to your servant
    according to your word, Lord.
66. Teach me knowledge and good judgment,
    for I trust your commands.
67. Before I was afflicted I went astray,
    but now I obey your word.
68. You are good, and what you do is good;
    teach me your decrees.
69. Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies,
    I keep your precepts with all my heart.
70. Their hearts are callous and unfeeling,
    but I delight in your law.
71. It was good for me to be afflicted
    so that I might learn your decrees.
72. The law from your mouth is more precious to me
    than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.
    

Read the versus of the Psalm. 

Mark the words or phrases that catch your attention. 

Meditate: talk (or better, write) with God about those words. Ask him to impress things upon your heart and mind; expect responses.

Teaching or Command of God

Luke 10:26-28

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

The Promise

Jeremiah 31:3

I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.

Pondering Point

The Psalmist contrasts his heart’s delight-ful obedience of God’s law with the “callous and unfeeling” heart of the arrogant. How would your heart compare?

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