“For Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.” (2 Cor. 7:10)
In this world there is sorrow and joy, and they come in turn like day and night. If we look closely we can see this more clearly. God gives us the opportunity to grow from our sorrows, which can then blossom into true joy when we gain the eyes to see and the ears to hear Him draw near in our daily life.
Worldly sorrow is when we don’t get what we want and blame God or others, and then feel sorry for ourselves. Godly sorrow is when we turn inwardly in sober regret at how we have rejected the love of God, and our neighbor, and our true self. This Godly sorrow has a dark luminosity inside of it which will grow like the pre-dawn light into the brightness of the most wonderful joy. Christ died on the Cross and His Apostles had great sorrow, but when He rose again, they had this greatest joy. Let us join them today with Christ in our heart and so behold the brightest Light of His Resurrection. Amen.
“Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Rom. 12:21)
The Monastics at St. Isaac of Syria Skete
and at the Convent of St. Silouan
and the Faithful at St. Nicholas Church
and the Staff at Orthodox Byzantine Icons and St. Isaac’s Bookstore