Blessed are those who mourn: The Gift of Tears

Saint Peter Weeping in the Presence of
the Sorrowful Mother by Guercino, 1647.

“We shall not be accused of not having performed miracles. We will not be accused of having failed to be theologians or contemplatives. But we shall surely have to answer to God for not having wept ceaselessly for our sins.” - St. John Climacus

“Whoever seeks deliverance from sins will find it in tears and weeping, and whoever wishes to advance in building up virtue will do so through weeping and tears.” - St. Anthony of the Desert

The Most Precious Thing in the World

God asked three of His angels to go down to earth and bring back to Him the most precious thing in the world.  After venturing the world, the three returned to God and submitted their findings.  The first reached into his feathers and brought out a vial containing a drop of blood from a person who had sacrificed his life to save another.  God said, “Surely this is precious in My sight for there is no greater love than this than for one to lay down his life for his friend, but it is not the most precious thing in the world.”

The second angel reached into his feathers and brought out a vial containing the last breath of a nurse who died from a dread disease she contracted from nursing others to health.  God smiled and said, “Surely this is precious in My sight, for doing so to my brethren she had surely done the same for me; but it is not the most precious thing in the world.”

The third angel approached deeply affected by his journey.  With a contrite face, the angel reached into his feathers and brought out his findings.  The angle captured a tear of a sinner who had repented and returned to God.  God beamed upon the angel as He said, “Surely, O angel, you have brought Me the most precious thing in the world—it is the tear of repentance that opens the gates of heaven.”

continue at St. George Coptic