Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!

In the Name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Today we hear the Apostle’s words and counsel that we are to rejoice. “Rejoice in the Lord always,” he counsels us, “and again I say, ‘Rejoice!’” He offers us no context for this joy called forth like Lazarus from his tomb, except that this is what we are to do. “Let your [graciousness or forbearance] be known to all men,” he urges, for “the Lord is at hand,” which is always good news for those who love the Lord and who eagerly await His appearing (2 Tm. 4:8; Ts. 2:13). The coming of our Lord is always a joy for those who yearn for the good things of God to be made manifest. Even children today rejoice in the Lord as He makes His way into the Holy City of Jerusalem much to the chagrin of their elders who seek how to rid themselves of this Prophet, even to the extent of wanting to put Lazarus to death . . . . . . yet again (Jn. 12:1-8)! How is it that we never learn? How often must God work His wondrous works before we surrender ourselves to Him in the obedience of faith?

Still, God makes His way to the city that kills prophets, turning neither to the lefthand nor to the right, for He will not be dissuaded nor turned back, just as He has foretold on at least three occasions, “’[The Son of Man] will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again’” (Mt. 16:21; 17:22; 20:17; Lk. 18:31-33). Still, He makes His way knowing full well what awaits Him there. Even Thomas knew. “’Let us also go,’” we heard him say yesterday when Jesus was determined to go to the four-day-dead Lazarus, ‘’that we may die with Him’” (Jn. 11:16). Elsewhere, Sacred Scripture tells us that Jesus goes forth with joy and we are encouraged to look to Him in our own circumstances. “[F]or the joy that was set before Him,” we are told, “Jesus, [the Author and Finisher of our faith,] endured the Cross, despising the shame, . . . .” (Hb. 12:1-3). Joy made the Cross bearable, even for our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane! It was the joy of knowing what He would accomplish and achieve there in Jerusalem. It was the joy of being in communion with His Father Whose will was bearing precious fruit and eternal: the restoration of fallen Adam and Eve, the reclamation of sinful souls from the jaws of the lion, and the shattering of death’s grip once-and-for-all. It was the joy of “Love divine, all loves excelling.” “Through the Cross joy has come into all the world!” (Troparion).

Joy is an unmistakable fruit of the Holy Spirit so characteristic of the Church (Ga. 5:22-23). So much so, we’re baffled by it. And, if we are baffled by it, how much more the world? Such joy seems so elusive to many of us because, it seems to me, we confuse joy with its far more temporary and circumstantial cousin – happiness. Happiness is fleeting while joy is eternal; happiness is superficial like ripples upon the surface of water while joy is more like deep, still water. Because joy is rooted in God Who never changes and is the soil in which happiness must be rooted in order for true happiness to exist. “Rejoice,” St. Paul says, “in the Lord always.” This is why in the Book of Acts we find the Apostles rejoicing in the Lord that “they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His Name,” and this after they had been beaten and commanded not to speak anymore in the Name of Jesus (Ac. 5:17-42). Is this not in the manner of Jesus “Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the Cross, despising [its] shame . . . .” (Hb. 12:2)? The Cross isn’t joy, but through it “joy comes” to those who wait on the crucified and risen Lord. Would it surprise us to learn that St. Paul wrote this very Epistle – along with Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon – all from a prison cell? Again and again the apostolic litany to “rejoice” is used at least 9 times in this Epistle alone. Our joy cannot come from anyone else but our God “Who for us men and for our salvation came down from Heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became Man; and . . . was crucified for us . . . and suffered, and was buried; and the third day He rose again . . . .” (Nicene Creed).

It should also not surprise us that the joy which eludes us comes about from faith in God, coupled with hope and love. These are the three theological virtues that tie us to God. Along with joy one finds contentment, satisfaction, and confidence – again, all rooted in God. And these, beloved, flow from a soul steeped in gratitude and thanksgiving to God. The Fathers teach us that if we are humble of heart and thankful to God, nothing the devil hurls at us can hurt us. Thus, the Apostle from the cell of his incarceration counsels us to follow his lead and imitate him. “Fret not about anything,” he says, “but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ.” God’s peace, God’s joy is not a product of human endeavor or reasoning. Nothing he says has to do with us or depends upon us, except to continually surrender ourselves by prayer into the hands of God. But it depends solely upon the Son of God Who for love of us sinners willingly, gladly, joyfully gave Himself up for us all (Jn. 3:16-17; Rm. 5:1-11; 8:32; Ga. 2:20). It is Jesus Christ, and Him crucified, Who strengthens us in all of this so that we can do it (Pp. 4:13).

Allow me to conclude with a portion from the Prayer of the Elders of Optina, a prayer I would urge us all to incorporate into our Prayer Rules:

O Lord, grant that I may meet all that this coming day brings to me with spiritual tranquility. Grant that I may fully surrender myself to Thy holy will. At every hour of this day, direct and support me in all things. Whatever news may reach me in the course of the day, teach me to accept it with a calm soul and the firm conviction that all is subject to Thy holy will. Guide my thoughts and feelings in all my words and actions. In all unexpected occurrences, let me not forget that all is sent down from Thee.

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Th. 5:16-18). “[A]nd the God of peace shall be with you.”

Though the prayers of our holy Fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God,

have mercy on us and save us. Amen.

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!

VIGIL PROPERS: PROPERS:

Gn. 49:1-2, 8-12 Pp. 4:4-9

Zp. 3:14-19 Jn. 12:1-18

Zc. 9:9-15