Come Ye Disconsolate Thomas Moore Analysis

Upon going through personal tragedy from the death of his family, Irish poet, and songwriter, Thomas Moore (1779-1852) wrote these prolific words in the song, ‘Come, Ye Disconsolate,’ “Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.” In keeping with that quote, the ‘Beatitudes’ found in the book of Matthew 5:3-11, shows how the lowly at heart, can be blessed with the Kingdom of God.

Growing up (not in poverty, but just below the middle class), and in the church, the ‘Beatitudes’ were taught in a way that stated that one must be poor (financially) in order to get to heaven. This did not sit well with me as I grew older and wanted more success in my life. My thinking was, “let me get wealthy, then I will come back to the church.” Jesus never

Regardless of the wealth that I obtain, God blesses me by staying rooted in His word, and not because of wealth. Jesus uses these words to enforce community among the saints. Gareth Weldon Icenogle shares, “Then came Jesus, the man who was the face, presence and community of God incarnated on earth… Jesus called this demonstration of God’s rule in community the ‘kingdom’ of God.” If ever there was an example of community, Jesus exemplified what community is throughout his ministry, and in this instance, through the

I use the illustrations, that a person with a lot of money, and is estranged from their family is bankrupt, whereas, a person with no money and has a supportive family structure is rich. Poor is a state of mind, not a way of life. Willard continues:

Jesus did not say, “Blessed are the poor in spirit because they are poor in spirit.” He did not think, ‘What a fine thing it is to be destitute of every spiritual attainment or quality. It makes people worthy of the kingdom.’ And we steal away the much more profound meaning of his teaching about the availability of the kingdom by replacing the state of spiritual impoverishment—in no way good in itself—with some supposedly praiseworthy state of mind or attitude that ‘qualifies’ us for the kingdom.

The Beatitudes are not taught that you have to be ‘poor’ in money, as some teach, but not to put yourself on a high pedestal because of your economic status. I teach that we should not think more highly of ourselves. (Rom. 12:3). I will leave them with the question, who are the Apostles? The ones who spread the message of the Gospel throughout the land. The beatitudes help in keeping them grounded as they go and spread the Gospel of Jesus