The Month of September
9th Day
10. A Christian Can Rejoice Even in Sufferings
(From the Life of the Holy Martyr Severian. Menaion, September 9)
9th Day
10. A Christian Can Rejoice Even in Sufferings
(From the Life of the Holy Martyr Severian. Menaion, September 9)
It is well known that the Holy Apostles rejoiced even in their sufferings. Thus, it is said of them that after they had been beaten in the Sanhedrin, they “went forth from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 5:41). And the Apostle Paul says of himself: “I rejoice in my sufferings” (Col. 1:24). What, then, is this? Is it really true? Can one truly rejoice in sufferings, not become disheartened in sorrows, and not despair in deprivation? Do not be surprised, brethren: it truly is possible, for this truth can readily be demonstrated not only by the example of the Apostles but by other examples as well. And so, as a further confirmation of it, today we place before you one such example, which in our opinion is particularly convincing.
Here before us is the martyr Severian. When, for confessing the name of Christ, he was brought before the torturer Licius, his first words were: “For me, as my teacher Paul says, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21). Licius ordered him to be beaten with rough sinews, and the holy Severian, it is said, “rejoiced, because he had been deemed worthy to receive wounds for Christ.” The torturer ordered him to be hung upon a tree and his flesh to be raked with iron, but Severian remained joyful even then. For after the terrible tortures, as he was being led to prison, he addressed the people in this way:
“Look, O people, at the state of prosperity in which I now find myself. You surely consider me now the most miserable of all, as one who has lost both his rank and his wealth and even his health. But you are mistaken, for of all of you I am now the happiest. My wounds, which I have received for Christ, are more desirable to me than all earthly delights; the streams of my blood are more honorable to me than the royal purple, and all the torment I have endured is more pleasant to me than all your pleasures, which you love so dearly. And my former rank and wealth—what were they for me but vanity and dust and the delusion of this world? I shake them from my feet as I ascend to the higher dignity of martyrdom and receive wealth that does not fail. And for me, to be called a disciple of Christ is more precious than royal honors. To lose my possessions for Christ is better for me than to acquire all the treasures of earthly kings.
But my bodily health, the strength of my limbs, and the beauty of my face—what were they for me before but sickness, weakness, and ugliness? When the members of my body had not yet been mangled and shed no blood, they were not truly my members, but only fetters for me and a prison. Now they are my members, for they are being cut to pieces for Christ. Now my body is healthy and strong, for it is being slain for Christ; now my beauty is with me, for you do not see upon me a human face, but my whole body is like a single wound, just as my Lord Jesus Christ was wounded throughout, from head to foot. I rejoice in my sufferings, because in my flesh I imitate the sufferings of Christ.”
From this example, brethren, the truth is clearly revealed that it is possible to rejoice even in sufferings, not to become disheartened in sorrows, and not to despair in deprivation. And, as you see, such joy is given to the servants of Christ by their ardent love for God. What did the martyr Severian say first of all? “For me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Yes, it is precisely ardent love for God, above all, that can give a person joy even in sufferings themselves. When, apparently, everything had been taken away from the Great Martyr Eustathios Plakidas—his glory, his wealth, his wife, and his children—he said: “For I weep as a man, O Lord, but in You, my Providence and the Architect of my way, I am strengthened, and in You I place my hope; and by Your love, as with cool dew, I sweeten the bitterness of my misfortunes.” Thus, it is truly the case that love for God, above all, can give us joy in sufferings.
But does anything else also give us such joy? Yes. What? The thought of the future recompense. When the martyr Severian was concluding the discourse we have quoted with the people, he said at its conclusion:
“You who see my wounds, consider the recompense for them. Neither can the mind comprehend nor words convey the blessings that the immortal King gives to those who suffer for Him. And it is precisely this that makes sufferings for Him desirable, and death even more desirable than this.”
Thus, reflection on the future recompense likewise gives us joy in sufferings, each in its own way.
What, then, remains for us from all this in conclusion? It is this: if we too wish to rejoice in sufferings, not become disheartened in sorrows, and not despair in deprivation, then first of all we must awaken in our soul and strengthen an ardent love for God, and together with this, frequently bring to mind those blessings that the Lord has prepared for those who love Him. When we observe all this, then without doubt we too will always rejoice in the Lord. Amen.
Questions for Discussion 10
1. According to the words of the holy martyr Severian, which wounds were more desirable to him than all earthly delights?
2. According to Severian, what was more precious to him than royal honors?
3. Why, according to Severian, did he rejoice in his sufferings?
4. What above all gives us joy in sufferings?
5. According to Severian in his concluding discourse with the people, what does the immortal King give to those who suffer for Him?
But my bodily health, the strength of my limbs, and the beauty of my face—what were they for me before but sickness, weakness, and ugliness? When the members of my body had not yet been mangled and shed no blood, they were not truly my members, but only fetters for me and a prison. Now they are my members, for they are being cut to pieces for Christ. Now my body is healthy and strong, for it is being slain for Christ; now my beauty is with me, for you do not see upon me a human face, but my whole body is like a single wound, just as my Lord Jesus Christ was wounded throughout, from head to foot. I rejoice in my sufferings, because in my flesh I imitate the sufferings of Christ.”
From this example, brethren, the truth is clearly revealed that it is possible to rejoice even in sufferings, not to become disheartened in sorrows, and not to despair in deprivation. And, as you see, such joy is given to the servants of Christ by their ardent love for God. What did the martyr Severian say first of all? “For me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Yes, it is precisely ardent love for God, above all, that can give a person joy even in sufferings themselves. When, apparently, everything had been taken away from the Great Martyr Eustathios Plakidas—his glory, his wealth, his wife, and his children—he said: “For I weep as a man, O Lord, but in You, my Providence and the Architect of my way, I am strengthened, and in You I place my hope; and by Your love, as with cool dew, I sweeten the bitterness of my misfortunes.” Thus, it is truly the case that love for God, above all, can give us joy in sufferings.
But does anything else also give us such joy? Yes. What? The thought of the future recompense. When the martyr Severian was concluding the discourse we have quoted with the people, he said at its conclusion:
“You who see my wounds, consider the recompense for them. Neither can the mind comprehend nor words convey the blessings that the immortal King gives to those who suffer for Him. And it is precisely this that makes sufferings for Him desirable, and death even more desirable than this.”
Thus, reflection on the future recompense likewise gives us joy in sufferings, each in its own way.
What, then, remains for us from all this in conclusion? It is this: if we too wish to rejoice in sufferings, not become disheartened in sorrows, and not despair in deprivation, then first of all we must awaken in our soul and strengthen an ardent love for God, and together with this, frequently bring to mind those blessings that the Lord has prepared for those who love Him. When we observe all this, then without doubt we too will always rejoice in the Lord. Amen.
Questions for Discussion 10
1. According to the words of the holy martyr Severian, which wounds were more desirable to him than all earthly delights?
2. According to Severian, what was more precious to him than royal honors?
3. Why, according to Severian, did he rejoice in his sufferings?
4. What above all gives us joy in sufferings?
5. According to Severian in his concluding discourse with the people, what does the immortal King give to those who suffer for Him?
Source: The Cheti-Minei: Homilies for Every Day of the Year (Book 1: September, October, November) by Archpriest Viktor Guryev. Publication of the Russian Panteleimon Monastery on Mount Athos, 1896. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
