A HOLY EXULTANT WORSHIP OR A HEAVENY JOY, TOGETHER WITH A RIVER OF HOLY TEARS This psalm is considered the beginning of the third group, corresponding to the Book of Leviticus, the book concerning the sanctification. If God is my only Savior who raises me up from the grave and death (the Book of Genesis); Who grants me the inner freedom from the devil, the tyrant, and from sin (the Book of Exodus); The present book is a call for us to enjoy the holy life as an icon of the Holy Savior. This holiness is realized through the heavenly High Priest, who accepted to deliver Himself as a Sacrifice; and presented to us commandments concerning the purifications, realized through obedience to Him, He who is capable of realizing them in us. That is why this psalm came to reveal to us the essence of the worship to God; which is entering into a holy exultant worship, to turn our life to a deposit of the heavenly life; and for our days to become like a heavenly wedding, whose secret is hope for what we shall get, despite what we suffer here of troubles and temptations. The three psalms, corresponding to the book of Leviticus, came to reveal the feature of the heavenly church worship: 1- Psalm 126: A holy exultant worship 2- Psalm 127: A worship to God, the Builder and the Keeper of the house. 3- Psalm 128: The worship of the blessed household. The present psalm is like unceasing cry-outs of joy! As the believers are liberated from the captivity of sin, their hearts are lifted up as though to heaven in purity and holiness, exultant in the Holy One working in them, and experiencing the holy heavenly life, filled with unutterable joy. This psalm is also considered a a national lamentation, which, in its form is like psalm 85, and in its style is like Jeremiah 31; when the believers recall the salvation help of the Lord, having brought https://coptic-treasures.com/ 102 them over from captivity, and rescued them from tribulation and famine. Such was the condition of some of those returning from captivity to Jerusalem; they were like someone in a dream, because of the intensity of joy; as it was said to the people: “Do not mourn nor weep, … For the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8: 10). This is a simplified portrait of how we, ourselves, shall be when we set forth to paradise. This psalm speaking to those persistant on going ahead with their spiritual journey to God, suits us fine to help us in the time of grief and depression; as this world is no doubt the valley of tears, in which man plants while weeping. But it supports you tohold fast to your faith. This psalm refers to the seeds which we sow now, which are “the good works prepared and planned beforehand by the power of the Spirit of God, that each of us should walk in them” (Ephesians 2: 10), amid the labors of this disturbed life. He who knows how to practice the work of God in this world – the valley of tears and labors, will exult like the diligent farmer who sows the seeds even during the death of winter, and no cold wind nor severe weather can keep him from doing that! … That is how we should look at the labors of this life. The devil puts the pleasures on our way, intending to distract and turn us aside from the good works for which we are created to do. Listen to what the psalmist say: “Those who continuously go forth weeping…”; Each of us, indeed, can find some reason for weeping; Yet we are committed to go on walking, doing the good works on our way. How miserable we would be if we are called to work diligently, just to weep, without watching the fruit of our work! How miserable we would be if we find no one to wipe out our tears. But we surely know that the Holy Spirit works in us to keep on sowing amid our tears; promising us through the psalmist, that we shall return amazed by joy! bearing the fruit of our work as an offering for Him1! (St. Augustine) 1- An exultant joyful life 1 2- A divine joyful work 2 – 3 1 Homilies on Ps. 2. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 103 3- Joyful fountains 4 – 6 1- AN EXULTANT JOYFUL LIFE: A Song of Ascents “When the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion, we were like those who dream” (1) Reaching the city of Jerusalem, the believers count themselves like those who dream; not believing that they were liberated from captivity, and set forth toward their home; namely toward the High Heavenly Jerusalem, our mother. Nothing would bring gladness to man’s soul like being liberated from the captivity of sin, to live in the glorious liberty of the children of God, with no authority of the sin, nor of the devil on him. He would live like an angel of the Lord, as though in a dream, without the authority of the old man on him, nor of the chains of the circumstances of this world to bind him. St. John Chrysostom tells us about two kinds of captivity: one good, and the other evil. The first, according to the apostle Paul: “bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10: 5); And the second, being a captive under a cruel and violent mistress; namely, sin: “those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins” (2 Timothy 3: 6). I beg you to avoid with great awareness, coming under her authority, to fight against her, and never to reconcile with her; For, once we are liberated from her, we shall be free. Above everything else, like those people who became in comfort after being liberated from the savage enemy; We should rejoice and exult when we become liberated from sin, and should preserve this eternal joy, instead of corrupting and distorting it by being preoccupied with the same iniquities1. (St. John Chrysostom) Think about how we became captives in the first place; having become “sold under sin” (Romans 7: 14) …. Who has sold us? … We, ourselves by accepting the deceiver. We sold ourselves, yet we cannot redeem ourselves! … We sold ourselves because we 1 On Ps. 126. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 104 accepted the sin; and we shall be saved by the faith of righteousness. … The Righteous was delivered to save us … has shed His blood; … He who did not become righteous, but was so born1. We grieve on our present portion, and are in comfort by hope. Once the present cross over, Instead of grief, we shall have eternal joy, when we need no more comfort, being not prone to any calamity. Hence he says: “like”, a term which does not always imply analogy, but sometimes refers to an actual fact, as it does here … That is why we should walk in Christ, and joyfully praise; praise like those in comfort; for He walks before you, He who commands you to follow Him2. (St. Augustine) 2- A DIVINE JOYFUL WORK: “Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, The Lord has done great things for them’” (2) What a marvelous psalm! That joyful return to Jerusalem was nothing but a deposit of the return to the heavenly home! Those who returned home from captivity expressed their joy by praising; and their mouths were filled with spiritual joyful laughter. They praised God who, by His mighty arm, brought them back to the promised land. Cyrus, the king of Persia and Made – who represents the Gentiles – had to confess and recognize that mighty arm and hand of the Lord; he, about whom Isaiah prophesied more than fifty years before his birth. They returned shouting for joy to rebuild the temple, and to repair the walls of their city; as a deposit of what they will gain on an eternal heavenly level. This mouth, O brethren, given to us by the Lord, … we should fill it with spiritual joy and praise, and not with food, drink, or vain talk. This mouth, O brethren, how could it be said that “It was filled with laughter”; when it is so filled with food and drink that we 1 On Ps. 126 (125). 2 On Ps. 126 (125). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 105 cannot even talk…. But we have another mouth inside, namely, in our heart; which, if it produces evil, it defiles us; and if goodness, it purifies us. … About such a mouth you hear when the gospel is read … The Lord seeks our inner purity, which, if acquired, the outside needs to be purified as well. He says: “First cleanse the inside of the cup; … that the outside may also be clean” (see Mathew 23: 26) 1. Keep the mouth of your hearts from evil, to become innocent. The tongue of your body will become innocent; so will be its hands, feet, eyes, and ears; all your members will serve with innocence; on account of that the righteous leader is your heart. “Then they said among the nations: ‘The Lord has done great things for them’” (2) 2. (St. Augustine) The nations will marvel about how our hearts are filled with joy, and our tongues with praise, amid the troubles and temptations of this life. They will have to testify that this could not be a natural thing to happen; but that it has to be the work of God in us. Our mouths will be filled with joy, if we do not utter vain talk, nor slander one another; or say filthy words; but our tongues will be filled with singing through studying the Words of God, through wisdom and thanksgiving to Him; on account of that He set us free of the house of bondage. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) “The Lord has done great things for us, whereof we are glad” (3) Repetition here is not without meaning; but confirms the great joy that took place in them3. (St. John Chrysostom) When we offer a holy worship to the Lord, those on the outside would stand in awe before such a great joy dwelling on us. Exultation on the liberation from captivity is not a simple contribution for being transformed to the better. 1 On Ps. 126 (125). 2 On Ps. 126 (125). 3 On Ps. 126. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 106 Asking who would not rejoice for such a thing, the psalmist has in mind when their grandfathers were liberated from the land of Egypt, and were transformed from horrible servitude to freedom; How, as a result of their denying murmur, protest, and complaint, amid the blessings they have got, they remained in their grief… This is not befitting of us; they complained; whereas we rejoice and exult… not only because of our liberation from a calamity, but because everyone of us will realize the extent of God’s care for us1. Cyrus, himself, as an example; has set free those who were under his authority, without being asked by them; but it was God who “stirred up his spirit” (Ezra 1: 1). And he did not only set them free, but gave them “silver, gold, livestock, etc.” (Ezra 1: 1-4) 2. (St. John Chrysostom) Take into consideration, brethren, that, although Zion does not so says nowadays among the nations, Yet, men, all over the world, run toward the church3. (St. Augustine) 3- JOYFUL FOUNTAINS: “Restore our fortunes, O Lord, as the streams of the South” (4) It is a cry-out by the psalmist to God; seeing that many of the Jews have chosen to stay in Babylon, rejecting the freedom from its captivity.When Cyrus issued a decree allowing the Jewish captives to return to Jerusalem, Only 50,000 did return, while the rest chose to remain in Babylon, on account of that they managed to have economic interests there, and counted their return to Jerusalem as substantial material loss. …. Exulted for the sake of those who did return, the Psalmist keeps on crying out to the Lord, until the last captive returns. Likewise with us; Together with the exultation of our souls for God’s work in us; Our souls will not find comfort, until all humanity come to enjoy salvation, and taste the joy of the gospel. 1 On Ps. 126. 2 On Ps. 126. 3 On Ps. 126 (125). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 107 The psalmist likens the church to the streams of the south, inundated with the water of the divine grace; and gather together those who are saved, or liberated from the captivity of sin. The way the heavy rain create a torrent of water in the dry brooks in ‘Negeb’, south of Jerusalem, So the Lord renews our life. In the Old Testament, the south wind used to refer to the warmth of the Spirit, or to the work of the fiery Holy Spirit; Whereas the north wind used to refer to the coolness of the spirit by evil. This psalm means that the rain pours after the warm south wind blows, as a reference to the Holy Spirit sought by the heart, that became hardened like snow, But once the warmth of the Holy Spirit dissolves the snow accumulated in it, tears will flow like rain from the eyes. (St. Augustine) “Those who sow in tears, shall reap in joy” (5) The believer stands in awe, his heart gets filled with heavenly joy, and feels as though heaven has occupied his heart, or that his heart is lifted up to heaven. Tears flow into his depths, not to dampen or quench his joy, but to water and nourish it. It is as though the heart turns into an exultant heaven, or into a river of tears to water the city of God inside it. While the laughter of the world contradicts with tears; the spiritual laughter is in harmony with the spiritual tears, both of them work together like two siblings. Our Christ, the true Source of joy, leads us on the way of tears, to bring us forth to His heavenly joy. He cried over Lazarus, as well as over Jerusalem, and in the garden of Gethsemane. And He promised us: “You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy” (John 16: 20). This is the harvest of the holy tears. David “All night made his bed swim, and drenched his couch with his tears”(Psalm 6: 6). And Jeremiah the prophet says: “Oh, that my head were waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears, that I may weep day and night” (Jeremiah 9: 1). According to St. Gregory the Nezianzen: [These tears are rivers whose water shall make glad the city of God]. And according to St. Augustine: [These tears water the seed of faith in our hearts]. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 108 We are committed first to labor and strive before we seek comfort. As this applies to every thing in life, the psalmist often says that sowing precedes reaping; And like the sower who has to exert labor, sweat, and tears; So is he, who practices virtue. As nothing is more unbefitting of man like slothfulness, God made the way narrow and difficult, not only in practicing virtue, but in all aspects of life, The sower, the builder, the traveler, the carpenter, the artist; and everyone who intends to earn a profit, is committed to present labor and effort. And as much as the seeds need rain, so we need tears; And as much as the soil needs plowing, so the souls needs labor and even troubles; Like a shovel that plows the soil to soften it, and to rid it of harmful weeds. The soil, not treated with labor shall never produce anything good1. (St. John Chrysostom) Oh, Such a life full of tears! … Let us sow! … What should we sow? … The good works … The works of mercy are our seeds. That is what the apostle means by saying: “Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (Galatians 6: 9). No field is wider than Christ to sow in! Your soil is the church, Sow in it as much as you can! … But, unless you have the good will, all what you do would be counted as nothing! … Do not lose heart if you have nothing much to give, as long as you have the good will! What do you sow? Mercy!... And what do you reap? Peace! Did the angels say: “Peace on earth (for the rich)”? … No, they said: “Peace on earth for those with good will” (see Luke 2: 14). Zaccchaeus had good will; as well as great love (Luke 19: 8) 2. (St. Augustine) “Weeping may linger for a night, but joy comes with the morning” (Psalm 30: 5). To understand what I am saying, remember the passions of the Lord … In the evening the disciples wept as they saw the Lord hanged on the cross; But in the morning (of Sunday), they shouted for joy to see Him risen … and ran around to give one 1 On Ps. 126. 2 On Ps. 126 (125). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 109 another the good news of His resurrection … They have seen the Lord! To speak in general, the evening refers to life in this world; those who weep will be comforted with the morning: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5: 4); and: “Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh” (Luke 6: 21). Those whose life approaches its end, is close to its sunset, and weep with tears for their sins, will rejoice with the coming of the true morning … For “Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy” (Psalm 126: 5), in the future1. (St. Basil the Great) Concerning food, there are several offenses attached to it. Some do not care for what is offered to the idols; whereas others, trained themselves to abstain from eating it; yet they condemn those who do. Men deal with food in several ways, because of their ignorance of the reasonable basis on which to eat or to abstain from eating it. We abstain from eating meat or drinking wine while fasting, not despising them as something unclean, but hoping for a reward; Namely, we disregard certain material things, to enjoy later on, the mental spiritual banquet. “Sowing now in tears, to reap (in the coming world) in joy” (Psalm 126: 5) 2. (St. Cyril of Jerusalem) Let us sow now in tears to reap in joy. Let us show ourselves like the people of Nineveh, and not like those of Sodom (Genesis 19: 17, 23). … Let us mend our ways, lest we perish. … Let us listen to the preaching of Jonah, to save ourselves from the fire and brimstone3. (St. Gregory the Nezenzian) Many believe that the phrase, saying: “O, My people, what have I done to you, And how have I wearied you?” (Micah 6: 3), is more fitting to be referred to the Lord Jesus; who had no fear to be tried by the unjust; but entered into trial by His own free will;. But, as the Father have committed all judgment, not to someone weak, but . 1 مز 30 . 2 مقال 27 :3 3 On His Father's silence, Oration 16: 14. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 110 to the Son (John 5: 22); what judgment could He suffer?! … “He is justified when judged” (Psalm 51: 4) 1. (St. Ambrose) The sufferings of the present time for the sake of truth, is not worthy to be compared with the glory prepared for those who strife in good works (See Romans 8: 18). And as the sheaves of joy (like the sheaves of wheat) are the portion of those who sow in tears; So joy will be the portion of those who suffer for the sake of God. Like the bread acquired by much sweat tastes sweet in the mouth of the sower; so is the sweetness of the works for the sake of righteousness in the hearts of those who acquired the knowledge of Christ2. (St. (Mar) Isaac the Syrian) I wish, O brethren, no one deceives himself; There is no time for laughter in this world! … I know that everyone wants to be joyful, but not everyone seek joy in the location befitting of him3! “Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy” (5). Someone may say: It would be unfair to weep; and it is so difficult to endure sorrow. If such is said among you, Just think of the great beauty of the fields, green with the crop sown with the perseverance of the heart! And at the same time, it is befitting of us not to shed tears on any earthly losses, but we should rather shed them longing for the eternal life4. If we feel sad, and sigh while thinking of our weaknesses, the multitude of temptations, the crawling of sins, and the resistance of destructive lusts, that stir up against the good thoughts; … We would be qualified to exult forever in the time of joy, comfort, happiness, and the eternal life to come5. (St. Caesarius, bishop of Arle) 1 The Peayer of Job and David, 4 8: 29. 2 Ascetic Homilies, 4. 3 Sermon 215: 2 4 Sermon 162: 2 5 Sermo126: 5. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 111 When you see a soul that sows good in tears, prepared to reap with cries of joy (5); That sowed field has a king – the Logos – who leads, judges, and reigns1. (St. Dedymus the blind) For those who intend to work with diligence, and not with slothfulness; there will be a happy life; and they will never miss the tranquility2. (St. Cyril the Great) “He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him” (6) St. Augustine sees in the parable of the Good Samaritan who symbolizes the Lord Christ, being the Good Guardian; an actual portrait of the believer who, while coming down from Jerusalem to Jericho, fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead (Luke 10: 30), etc.). The Good Samaritan had compassion on him, brought him to an inn (most probably in Jerusalem), and took care of him. St. Augustine asks us not to get disturbed because of our coming down and falling among the thieves, as our Christ – the Good Samaritan -- intends to carry us and to bring us up to His holy church. In coming up together with Him, we shall forget about our wounds, and our souls will exult, praise, give thanks, grow spiritually, and have comfort in the heavenly inn! I wish we do not fail to sow our seed amid the troubles. As, if we sow in tears, we shall reap in joy … If we have come down, and were wounded, We shall go up together (with the Good Samaritan), sing, and proceed until we reach our final destination – the Heavenly Jerusalem) 3. (St. Augustine) Christ does not lie when He says on the tongue of His apostle: “What man sows, he will reap”. With God’s help, let us always sow in the field of our hearts by reading, praying, and good works; by which we shall come to reap righteousness and mercy, in the 1 Commentary on Ecclesiastes 145: 2. 2 Commentary on Luke, Homily 43. 3 On Ps. 126 (125). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 112 day to come, the day of judgment; when, in us, what is written will be realized: “He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seeds for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him” (6). Through this joy, you will be led by the Good Lord, who is, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit; lives and reigns with no end1. (Father Caesarius, bishop of Arle) He is not talking about crops, but about regular life, teaching the listeners not to feel sorrow in temptations. Like the sower who feels no sorrow, carrying such a heavy load of seeds, for he looks forward to the great crop he will eventually reap; So he is who passes through temptation, he should not feel its heavy load, as the anticipation of the crop would help keep his mind sound. … So, let us put in our mind to give thanks for the temptation, as well as for being liberated from it2. Don’t you see, O beloved brethren, how great are the benefit of the temptations that dwell on the righteous? Don’t you see how great will be the reward of his endurance will? … This blessed elderly couple, testify for that, by their perseverance and love for one another along the years…. What could be like such bond of love? …If we all follow this example, no sorrow will ever dwell on us; Nor shall will count the dwelling of afflictions on us, as a sign that God has forsaken us, or has forgotten about us; But we would rather deal with them as being a clear sign of the divine care toward us3. (St. John Chrysostom) The grace of God has indeed shone on Joseph, even in his young age; for he had a dream: He and his brothers were binding sheaves in the field. Suddenly his sheave rose and stood upright, while his brothers’ sheaves gathered around, and bowed down to his sheave (Genesis 37: 5-8). By that dream, the resurrection of Christ to come, was proclaimed to him; Who, seen in Jerusalem, His eleven disciples and all the saints bowed down before Him; … Although Joseph’s brothers, driven by envy, despised his dream, and denied 1 Sermon 8: 5. 2 On Ps. 126. 3 Homilies on Genesis, 32: 24-25. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 113 its actuality, yet they unconsciously interpreted it by saying: “Are you indeed to reign over us?” (Genesis 37: 8); As this vision has actually shown the Person of the King to come, “before whom every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth” (Philippians 2: 10) 1. (St. Ambrose) 1 Joseph 2: 7. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 114 AN INSPIRATION FROM PSALM 126 HOW GREAT IS YOUR LOVE, O GRANTOR OF HOLINESS! In the midst of the valley of tears; You shine on me with the light of Your exalted love; You bring me into the deposit of heaven; And turn my life into a continuous feast; You liberate me every day from the captivity of sin; And set me forth to enjoy the glorious liberty of the children of God. You liberate me from the captivity of the devil; And grant me instead the captivity of Your exalted love; My eyes will no more concentrate on my sins and weaknesses; But on Your exalted works; I became as though in a dream; No language can ever express what You have granted me; How much more would be what You prepare for me in the day You will come; When I see You face to face? You filled my mouth with spiritual laughter, and my tongue with exultation; With exalted love I testify to the greatness of Your works in and with me; Joy became for me, food to fill my mouth, and satisfy my soul; Eating and drinking no more preoccupy me; For You are the Bread coming down from heaven Who eats You will know nothing but satisfaction and exultation. The more our depths are filled with Your joy; Our feelings are ignited by longing for all to share this joy with us; In Your house we rejoice in the holiness pouring in it; But when will the day come for all mankind to become holy for You? Amid the exalted joy of the spirit, You grant me the tears of love; My tears run like a river that brings gladness to the city of God; My tears cry out to You; https://coptic-treasures.com/ 115 O You who has compassion on the sighs of the heart and its hidden tears! My tears water the hidden garden of my heart; That it would bear fruits of the work of Your Holy Spirit.
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