Homily Two for the Day of the Annunciation
By Archpriest Rodion Putyatin
(Delivered on Holy and Great Saturday)
By Archpriest Rodion Putyatin
(Delivered on Holy and Great Saturday)
I do not know what to say to you today, devout listeners.
Should I say, “Weep”? But you will say, “How can we weep when today joy has been proclaimed to the whole world?”
Should I say, “Rejoice”? But others will say, “How can we rejoice when Jesus Christ, our joy, lies today in the tomb?”
In this uncertainty, the following thought came to me: can you force a person to rejoice if he is not inclined to joy? Of course, it is difficult. And can you force a person to weep if he is not inclined to tears? That too is difficult. So let each person today remain in whatever disposition he is in — but that disposition must be given the proper direction.
Are you inclined today to rejoice? Then rejoice.
Are you inclined today to weep? Then weep.
Both sorrow and joy are fitting for this day.
When you hear the angel announcing to the Virgin Mary that the Son of God will be born from her — weep, because it was your sins that brought the Son of God down to earth, where He had to endure suffering for your sake. How can you not weep at this?
When you see the Savior of the world lying lifeless in the tomb — weep again, because He died this death for your sins. How can you hold back your tears at such a thought?
But are you not inclined to tears? Then rejoice.
Rejoice when you hear the angel announcing to the Virgin Mary the conception of the Son of God, because the Son of God takes on human flesh from her — for you, for your salvation, to deliver you from sin, curse, and death. How can you not rejoice at this?
Rejoice even when you look at the tomb of the Savior, because in that tomb your sins are buried, your eternal death is buried. How can you not be filled with joy at such a thought?
Do you want, listeners, to see in practice that both joy and sorrow are equally pleasing to God? Listen to this example:
Two monks once left their monastery and fell into a serious sin. Even saints fall — but they rise again quickly. These monks soon came to their senses, returned to their monastery, and confessed their sin to the abbot. As was customary, the abbot assigned them a fitting penance: for a certain period, they were to live separately in their cells, not leaving them, and eating only bread and water.
So they lived. One night, the abbot was shown in a dream that the sin of both monks had been forgiven. The next day, both were released from their confinement.
But there was a remarkable difference between them. One looked fresh and full, as if he had been eating the finest food; the other was thin and weak, as if he had eaten nothing for a whole year.
Surprised at this difference, the abbot asked the first:
“What did you do during your confinement?”
He replied:
“I spent day and night rejoicing and thanking God that He did not allow me to perish in sin but granted me repentance.”
Then he asked the other:
“And what did you do?”
He replied:
“I wept constantly over my sin and asked God for forgiveness.”
So you see: one rejoiced, the other wept — and both received equal forgiveness from God.
This means that joy is pleasing to God when a person rejoices in what is right, and sorrow is pleasing to Him when a person grieves for God and over what should be grieved (cf. 2 Corinthians 7:8–11).
Therefore, listeners, both today and at all times: if you wish to rejoice — rejoice; if you wish to weep — weep.
Only this: always rejoice in the Lord, and weep for your sins. Amen.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
