“Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy” (Psalm 126:5)
July 3, 2023
The world mined in mass of guile, is not a pleasant place. Its sphere crammed with harm, evil, enticement and deception, traps humans in to the devil’s nest. All the delicious food, trendy clothes and luxury residences with their fancy livings we watch through the lives of elites or in the medias, tempts people towards the desire of worldliness. The public is drawn to the world of globalization aiming to encircle the goal of enemy Satan, in driving human beings into eternal fire. Aware or unaware, we are being drawn towards his evil nest.
Life on this earth has become mischievous, deceptive and confusing for we would not be able to acknowledge all the deceit the devil lay upon us. This being due to our failure in spirituality, mainly our bodily longings are the faults. If it were not for the consumption of foods in or out of fasting seasons, comfort and leisure times during prayers and ignorance of our soul food, we would not have been facing these quandaries in our families, neighborhoods or communities. So many of us have sobbed with tears whilst watching the globe hit by plagues in killing thousands, tribal wars, massacre killing, burning down neighborhoods and rescinding societies. No one can ignore these national and global delinquencies but shall endure what is to come forth. We humans are in serious chaos without the awareness of resolutions. Though the worry might be till when befalls the suffering, the vital thing is persistence in religion.
Tears have much power in spiritual life in pleading God for what is vital. Our heart cries out towards the Lord seeking leniency, deliverance or else salvation. It is our hope in bringing peace and liberty to live in eternal life. Prophet David says, “Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy.” (Psalm 126:5) His words are the clarification of all the pain, anguish and sorrow we embrace in our Christianity for the Love of Lord and Jesus Christ. We have cried out for His mercy, hope and sovereignty. The strength of us though any impediments is our faith on God and His work of salvation. It is the believe in Him that passes the trial in Christian life. The truth of true life in Christ is, baring all the pain and torment brought upon us for His will is the salvation of mankind. Our deed is the seed we sow on earthly life and reap in joy in the Kingdom of Heaven in heritance.
Father Gabriel Bilas of Saint Mary Magdalene Orthodox Church in his sermon on October 20, 2023 (EU.C) explains the examples of how seeds grow into fruit just as our spiritual life in baring fruit. “We know, that in our gardens, if we put a few tomato seeds into the ground, it will eventually produce plants which bear tomatoes. If we spread seeds for Green Beans, by the end of the season, you will have green beans. According to the laws of nature, depending on the seeds you sow and how much of them you plant, you can have a pretty good idea of what kind of harvest will come out of the ground.
There is a popular expression, “you reap what you sow”, and Saint Paul reminds us today that this doesn’t just happen in the nature. (2 Corinthians 9:6) It also happens within our lives! Whatever seeds we implant into our hearts, it is easy to see what kinds of fruits will come forth. If we plant seeds of anger and contempt for the world and for each other, we reap a life full of difficult situations, enemies, and hatred. If we are too attached to our possessions, we sow the seed of greed, which brings forth a life-style that is consumed with jealousy towards others and a constant worry about money. If we like to sow conflict and spread rumors and news by gossiping and speaking behind people’s backs…we reap a life full of distrust of one another (I wonder what they are saying about me?!)”
Saint Paul have also said, “For whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” (Galatians 6:7) These words of the apostle affirms what the Prophet David have said about sowing seed and reaping what we sow. If we sow in tears in our earthly life in tears that is to carry the cross of Lord Jesus Christ, we reap in joy. But if not, it is likely to live in tears forever.
The tears of repentance are the first stone to redemption and our heavenly home in the heavens. In walking down the true path of life as Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ have said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me,” we shall reach God’s Kingdom in Christ. (John 14:6)
Tough our temporary earthily life might seem to be joyful for some in having everything of amenity, comfort and momentary delight, it is only to lose it all within fractions of seconds or less at the end of time. The then grief, tears or crier is utterly hopeless and so brethren, is it better to weep today for the soul. It is better to bare pain now than despairingly await for eternal punishment.
As the famer sow seeds in the rain for the consumption of different types of food of us, and reap them in joy for he would benefit much first from the sell and then being the source of nutrition. We ought to learn from the farmer as he works hard during the exhaustive, cold and windy season winter without recreation for the reaping of good fruit. Then, it is demanding for us to be good, kind, patience, loving and diligent for the life in heaven.
May God be with us, Amen!