ACC ~ John 16 v17 - 20

SORROW AND JOY, THEN AND NOW

BEDE: What he added by way of explanation to those inquiring of him, “Truly, truly, I say to you that you will lament and weep, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be changed to joy” is fitting to their condition and to that of the entire church. Those who loved Christ lamented and wept when they saw him apprehended by his enemies, bound, led before the Sanhedrin, condemned [to death], scourged, exposed as an object of derision and finally crucified, his side pierced with a lance and buried. Those who loved the world … rejoiced when they condemned to a shameful death one who was troubling for them even to look at. The disciples were sorrowful when their Lord was put to death, but when they acknowledged his resurrection, their sorrow was changed to joy. And when they saw the mighty power of his ascension, they were raised up to an even higher level of joy, praising and blessing God. [1] …

But this discourse of the Lord is also appropriate to all believers who are striving to arrive at eternal joys through the tears and distress of the present [life]. They rightly lament and weep and are sorrowful during the present [time], since they are not yet capable of seeing him whom they love. As long as they are in their body, they recognize that they are on a journey and [absent] from their fatherland and kingdom. They have no doubt that they must reach their crown by labors and contests. Their sorrow will be changed to joy when, after the struggle of this present life is over, they receive the prize of everlasting life, about which it is said in the psalm, “Those who sow in tears will reap in joy.” [2] HOMILIES ON THE GOSPELS 2.13. [3]

[1] Lk 24:53.

[2] Ps 126:5 (125:5 LXX, Vg).

[3] CS 111:119*.

LAUGHING AT THE TIME OF RESURRECTION

DIONYSIUS OF ALEXANDRIA: “A time to weep, and a time to laugh.” [1] time to weep, when it is the time of suffering, as when the Lord also says, “Truly I say to you, that you shall weep and lament.” [2] But to laugh at the resurrection: “For your sorrow,” he says, “shall be turned into joy.” FRAGMENT 1. [3]

[1] Eccles 3:4.

[2] See also Lk 6:25.

[3] ANF 6:114.

THE WORLDLY SHALL NOT ALWAYS REJOICE

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: When Christ died according to the flesh, his disciples mourned, but the world rejoiced at his passion. If, however, the mourning of the saints was turned into joy when death and corruption were rendered powerless by Christ our Savior’s resurrection from the dead, then surely in a similar way the joy of the worldly minded was lost in sorrow. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 11.2. [1]

[1] LF 48:463**.

MOURN WHILE THE WORLD REJOICES

TERTULLIAN: If we rejoice with the world, it is to be feared that we shall also mourn with the world. But let us mourn while the world rejoices, and we shall afterward rejoice when the world mourns. ON IDOLATRY 13. [1]

[1] ANF 3:69**.