The Comforter Has Come

(Image generated by AI using OpenAI's DALL·E, assisted by ChatGPT)

"Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted" (Matthew 5:4)

 

 On September 1, 2024, my older sister passed away from Congestive Heart Failure coupled w/COPD. She was 15 months older than me; We lived together two years short of 20 years. As with all siblings, especially those born so close together as she and I, we fought (over everything), and to my surprise, we actually agreed on more things than we fought. We shared and loved various cultural experiences, we were foodies (she made me try everything) and to my surprise, I enjoyed much of it. She was a world traveler and (here I am still trying to get to Tucson) we planned several trips abroad with many upon a beautiful luxury Norwegian Cruise Liner. She left me. She went the way she wanted. I can't fault her for her decisions albeit it threw me into the doldrums of grief. Dreaded and dreadful, it is what it is - GRIEF!

Grief has been a topic of discussion for as long as death, loss, and heartbreak. It has been the crowning topic of most talk shows, podcasts, counseling sessions, agency handouts, group and peer sessions, and the sermons of most clergy. Grief has dominated circles for years and will remain so in the wake of loss, whether by death, natural disaster, or the breakup of relationships. The subject will remain relevant for as long as human existence continues.

Yet, here is one other truth that is less discussed, even in the most sacred of discussions. That is the promise that Christ provided during the Sermon on the Mount, commonly referred to as the Beatitudes, the promise of comfort. When our Lord stated, "Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted" Matthew 5:4, proves to be one of the greatest human needs, Comfort.

I vividly recall asking God through prayer to 'visit' me during this dark time of loss. My need was that of comfort, embrace, and strength. Being in a temporary state devoid of feeling (as many have felt during great loss), encountering the Comforter is an experience that will go down in the annals of my mind forever. That early morning visitation, one so very real allowed me to know Truth in Christ's promise being revealed and fulfilled. 

The Comforter's presence can be difficult to define, but a few things may help. First, the Comforter is a person, not a thing. The Comforter's presence was so physical that I reached out to touch the Holy Spirit, who is the Comforter. The Person of the Holy Spirit, being extremely gentle in nature, brought profound Peace, unimaginable Joy, and divine Patience to spend the time needed with me to "bless" me with the strength to continue this journey called life. 

Second, the Comforter is not a feeling. I was asleep when the Comforter came. However, I did "feel" the presence of someone in the room and very near. As I awakened, my eyes slowly opened, and as I stretched my hand to touch the Person of the Comforter, there was absolutely no fear, no disillusionment, and I certainly was not intoxicated in any form. There was no anxiety, nor impatience to hurry and get what you need...It was the divine presence of the Holy One, The Comforter had come! 

Third, the Comforter, as earlier stated, is a divine spirit, not a physical body. No matter how much I hoped for a manifestation of the Person, I did not experience that.  Unlike a human being with flesh and bones, the Comforter transcends the limitations of the material world. As a spirit, the Comforter moves freely, dwelling within the hearts and minds of believers, guiding us into all truth. This spiritual presence brings peace, comfort, and wisdom in ways that a physical presence cannot, offering solace that speaks to the soul. The Comforter’s influence is unseen yet deeply felt, a reminder that God’s work is not bound by the visible but extends beyond the tangible into the realm of the eternal and the divine."

Finally, the Comforter is a helper, not a hindrance. The help that was provided is indescribable. Divine engagement. Peaceful and thoughtful fellowship. Engaging in the Word of God made receiving easy, and joyous. The overwhelming joy that was present was so that my jaws began to ache from smiling so relentlessly. The Helper came to assist with coming into agreement with what God allowed because of my sister's desire. The Helper didn't prolong the grieving process but rather helped me find joy in the Word of God fully understanding, "In everything give thanks....." I got it now! It is only through the "Thank You" that God's presence inhabits that atmosphere, and sends comfort to those who seek and embrace His divine presence through His spirit. 

This is truly the Promise of the scripture: "Blessed are they....." I'm blessed and you are blessed when the Comforter comes. Amen!