When the Lord returned to the captive Zion,
we became as those comforted.
At that time our mouth was filled with joy,
and our tongue with great joy.
At that time they will say among the nations,
“The Lord was magnified to act with them.”
The Lord was magnified to act with us.
We became gladdened.
Return our captivity, O Lord,
like the torrents in the south.
Those who sow in tears
will reap with great joy.
Going, indeed they were going and weeping,
removing their seed.
But coming, they will come with great joy,
lifting up their handfuls. (Psalm 126:1–6 [125 LXX])
Let no one believe that he possesses any happiness or true joy in this world. Happiness can be prepared for, but it cannot be possessed here. Two times succeed each other in their own order, “A time to weep, and a time to laugh.” Let no one deceive himself, brethren; there is no time to laugh in this world. I know, indeed, that every man wants to rejoice, but men do not all look for joy in the place where it should be sought. True joy never did exist in this world, it does not do so now, and it never will. For thus the Lord Himself warned His disciples in the Gospel when He said: “You will suffer in the world,” and again: “While the world rejoices, you will grieve for a time, but your grief will be turned into joy.” For this reason, with the Lord’s help let us do good in this life through labor and sorrow, so that in the future life we may be able to gather the fruits of our good deeds with joy and exultation according to that sentence: “Those that sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.”
Through God’s giving us the strength, we ought to live in such a way that we may merit to return happily to our chief fatherland where our forebears, the patriarchs, the prophets, and the apostles, long to see and welcome us. There our fellow citizens, the angels, that heavenly city of Jerusalem, and Christ, the king of that city, await us with the outstretched arms of love. If we have overthrown the devil and are filled with good works, then we may happily return to them. For you know, brethren, that all traders and travelers are anxious on the road, in order that they may be free from care in their native country, and they feel true joy when they merit to reach their fatherland along with great gain. Thus we too, dearly beloved, prepare our soul for joy whenever we deserve to go to Christ. In the meantime let us rejoice only in hope, but afterwards we are destined to possess joy in reality.
Caesarius of Arles, Sermon 215.2, 4
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