Jesus often said things that sounded upside-down to the world. “He that shall lose his life shall find it” (Matthew 10:39; 16:25) doesn’t make much sense to the average person. Neither does His second beatitude. Who congratulates a man whose cheeks are wet with tears? What poet writes about the joy of a broken heart?

Yet Jesus said exactly that: “Blessed are those who mourn” (Matthew 5:4).

The world would rewrite it: “Blessed are those who laugh.”

To most people, sadness and happiness never sit at the same table. Our culture runs from sorrow like a frightened child. Its motto is simple: Get away. Escape. Stay entertained. Don’t think too deeply. Its philosophy echoes Solomon’s critics: “Eat, drink, and be merry” (Ecclesiastes 8:15; Luke 12:19–20). It believes that laughter is contagious, but tears are a
private burden. 

But Jesus turned the world’s wisdom right-side up: “Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep” (Luke 6:25).