Sorrow Joy Becomes

“Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.”

‭‭John‬ ‭16:20‬ 

Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.

‭‭John‬ ‭16:22‬ 

As servants of God…we are sorrowful but always rejoicing. That’s the way life is. It maybe dark now but light is coming very soon. Jesus assures us (John 16:20) that our sorrow shall be turned into joy. When we enter the homes of Christians we are often fascinated by the Christian art they display on their walls and display cases. Most often it is a cross in some form we see. The cross is one keepsake we turn to in times of brokenness, conflict and loss. We turn to the cross as our thoughts turn to the inner sanctum of our hearts where the presence or strength of Christ in us dwells, in whom our restless lives find quiet rest as we say a short prayer for strength. It is often in those moments we are surprised by joy with a comforting or empowering word that lifts our spirits.

The period of Lent for us, has been an inward journey of prayer and reflection. We remembered how low our world sank to crucify our Messiah and King. A time we sacrificed some of our luxuries and distractions as we to drew near to the passion of Christ. The last week of lent is the most enduring as we read the gospels and gained fresh insight into the sacrifices Christ made on our behalf.

As Easter approaches some of us may be in the darkness of a crisis. Some others may be under the shadow of the death of a dearly loved one. There are others who are in the midst of persecution, civil unrest, terrorist attacks, torn by conflicts, facing homelessness, fighting human trafficking, the list is endless; what good is rejoicing at Easter when there is so much of evil all around us? Do we see them as the broken body of Christ? Do we see the face of the suffering Christ in them?

Today I am reminded of the poem “Surprised by Joy” written by William Wordsworth two years after the loss of his four-year-old daughter. His Spiritual barrenness for her is as fresh as the day she died. He cries out, “How could I forget thee?” Wordsworth portrays the coexistence of joy and sorrow as he titled his poem “Surprised by Joy.” I am fascinated by this poem as it is a lament beautifully written that expresses grief and loss. If we live in our own shadows, common sense says that we will never see the light. Yet the combination of the Title and the lament, Wordsworth beautifully describes to us as a cryptic message of being sorrowful yet rejoicing (2 Corinthians 6:10). For Wordsworth the joy that surprised him is the steadfast love of God that fills him with the hope that he will see the heavenly face of his daughter again(2 Corinthians 4:17).

Surprised by joy – impatient as the Wind
I turned to share the transport – Oh! with whom
But Thee, deep buried in the silent tomb,
That spot which no vicissitude can find?
Love, faithful love, recalled thee to my mind

But how could I forget thee? Through what power,
Even for the least division of an hour,
Have I been so beguiled as to be blind
To my most grievous loss? – That thought’s return
Was the worst pang that sorrow ever bore,
Save one, one only, when I stood forlorn,
Knowing my heart’s best treasure was no more

That neither present time, nor years unborn 

Could to my sight that heavenly face restore. 

For those who are presently blessed abundantly spiritually and materially by the grace of God, we set out on an outward journey to reach out to those who are suffering and in harms way. To those of us who are strong in Christ, we are called to be a source of support and instill hope to those who mourn. 

Let us keep them in our prayers and remind them by the grace of God we are all alive in Christ (Ephesians 2:5). Let us never forget in Christ we have all been richly blessed with eternal life (John 11:25). We reflect on the agony and suffering of Jesus through lent, but rejoice as Easter comes upon us. The resurrection of Christ brings us much joy, so will we on the final day rejoice with our Lord and Savior (John 14:1-4).

Prayer:- Lord Jesus as our period of Lent comes to an end, we thank you for being with us through this journey. Instill in us a deep sense of remembrance of your broken body for us. By your death we have all become a part of your body.Amen.

Soli Deo Gloria