ORTHODOX SPIRITUALITY AND THE “GIFT OF TEARS”

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God and Savior,

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

ORTHODOX SPIRITUALITY AND THE "GIFT OF TEARS."

In Orthodox spirituality, the "gift of tears" is a profound, divine grace that softens the heart, washes away sin, and facilitates deep repentance (penthos: grief). Often called a "second baptism," these tears are considered a spiritual, not merely emotional, phenomenon that cleanses the soul, bridges the gap between God and humanity, and brings a unique experience of "joyful sorrow." In the Gospel of Saint Luke we are told of the forgiveness of a sinful woman who "stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head" (Luke 7:38). Those tears were indeed "tears" of repentance.

Tears are a sign of inner transformation, helping to purify the heart, foster humility, and guide the believer toward a closer union with God. Saint Gregory the Theologian refers to tears as a "baptism of tears," an effective purification that cleanses the soul after the initial baptism of water. However, while holy tears are a gift, the tradition of the Church distinguishes them from tears caused by pride, self-pity, or demonic influence. The Holy Fathers of the Church encourage the faithful on meditating on the words of prayers, especially during the Divine Liturgy or in private confession, to cultivate this state of heartfelt contrition. The gift of tears leads one to a paradoxical state of "joyful sorrow" (penthos), where profound sorrow for one’s sins and the fallen state of the world is simultaneously paired with the joy of God’s love and mercy.

In Greek "joyful sorrow" is known as "Harmolype" (χαρμολύπη) is a foundational Orthodox belief meaning "bright sadness" or "joyful sorrow," representing a spiritual state of repentance that mixes sorrow or grief for sin with the joy of God’s agape and resurrection. It is particularly central to the Lenten season, especially Holy and Great Week, where divine services are solemn and sad, yet anticipate the joy of the Resurrection or Pascha. It helps the faithful to navigate the fallen world, keeping them aware of their frailty while remaining anchored in hope and thanksgiving. It is described as a, "new sense of life" that allows for spiritual growth, sometimes linked with the "pain of heart" needed for true agape and sincere prayer.

This "bright sadness" permeates most of the hymnology of the Holy Lenten Triodion. These hymns fill our liturgical divine services with a sadness that is at once bitter, as we consider the dreadful state we find ourselves in, and yet filled with joy, the bright promise of God’s presence and forgiveness. "Bright sadness", writes Father John Breck, "may be the most powerful and important experience we can know. It brings to our mind and heart, in the most direct and personal way, the ultimate purpose of our life and the object or end of our most passionate desire. It reminds us of who we are, as beloved children of God, created in His image and invited to glorify and enjoy Him forever."

It comes to us through our ascetic struggle during the Lenten season, as it does through the sacred beauty of the Church’s liturgical divine services. Saint Paisios said that for love to blossom in the heart, we must pray with pain of heart. In explaining this he said that when we hurt some part of the body–our hand, for example– all our attention and energy focuses on where we hurt. So too it is a hurting and broken heart that focuses our spiritual attention.

The Lenten divine services concentrate heavily on personal repentance, humbling oneself before God, and the need of spiritual catharsis or cleansing, with the "Kyrie eleison," "Lord, have mercy" chanted in a slow, mournful, and solemn tone. Our spiritual attitude during Holy Lent ought to be very much like that of the Prodigal son who "when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough to spare, and I perish with hunger! ‘I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like me like one of you hired servants.’ And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father SAW HIM AND HAD COMPASSION, AND RAN AND FELL ON HIS NECK AND KISSED HIM. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ (Luke 15:17-21). It is with the same spirit of repentance and contrition that we sinners return to our Heavenly Father and seek His loving forgiveness. It is extreme need that brings the prodigal son to his senses, but what draws him homeward is unquestionably his father’s unconditional agape.

In this poignant Parable we witness his father’s reaction to his son’s return home. "But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again, he was lost and is found." (Luke 15:22-24), The father does not censure the contrite son, but celebrates his homecoming as one who came alive from the dead. The symbolic significance of the "robe" is righteousness (Isaiah 61:19), the "ring" (a signet ring) is family identity (Hag. 2:23), and "sandals" refer to walking according to the gospel (Ephesians 6:15).

Let us return home to our heavenly Father and Savior with repentance, tears of contrition and with the knowledge that He awaits for us with open arms to embrace and kiss us with His Fatherly agape. Our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ says: "I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who REPENTS than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance" (Luke 15:7). This joy is triggered by a change of heart and mind (metanoia) of one individual, even if only one person repents, heaven celebrates and the Angels rejoice.

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"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
+ Saint John Chrysostomos

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With sincere agape in Christ’s Holy and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George