mourn or celebrate?

"a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to MOURN and a time to dance," (Ecclesiastes 3:4)

Today is the Sunday we celebrate All Saints Day (Nov. 1st) and remember, specifically, the loved ones who have recently "joined" the Communion of the Saints.  It also gives us the opportunity to remember all of our loved ones who are with the Saints.  I don't know about you but for me it is a time of celebration - celebrating my loved ones who are no longer in pain, sick or having difficulty moving around.  The days, like today, that we "know" are coming we can prepare for, we can celebrate, and we can even laugh - or dance(?) (Ecc. 3:4)  It is the unexpected times, when something catches us off guard, when we can "weep."  Several weeks ago, now, as we were on our trip to the United Kingdom, one of the stops was Hadrian's Wall.  I was enjoying walking around the area, seeing the actual wall, learning more of the history when, quite unexpectedly, I was remembering Dad and all the times we talked about going to see it.  And, yes, I did "weep"

In the Gospel reading, today, Jesus is giving us the Beatitudes. (Matthew 5) He reminds us "blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." (5:4)  Yes, there are unexpected times when we do "mourn" and some when we start "laughing."  Jesus is reminding us of the reading in Ecclesiastes of a "time for everything."  (3:1)  The time, especially as we adjust to our loved one being with the Saints, when it is difficult to see the time to laugh and dance. (3:4)  The blessing is knowing God keeps God's promises - like Jesus has told us "those who mourn....will be comforted."

There can even be a time of dancing as a long awaited for celebration happens.  Whatever the celebration is - the wedding, or the baby, the loved one knew was coming, the graduation, or even a visit to a historical site - we can imagine the excitement.  We can maybe even "dance."  Something to think about as we celebrate our loved ones being with the Communion of the Saints. ​