In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Dear beloved brothers and sisters in Christ!
Today, we gather to celebrate the Feast of the Mother of God in honor of Her icon “Joy of All Who Sorrow.” In this title, in this name, we hear a powerful reminder of the role that the Most Holy Theotokos plays in our lives as Orthodox Christians. She is our Mother, our Intercessor, the One who stands beside us in our suffering and lifts us up with Her own hands toward the healing mercy of Her Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
The icon we venerate today, the “Joy of All Who Sorrow,” is much more than just a depiction. It is a window to Heaven, an invitation to step into the mystery of God’s mercy. And it teaches us, powerfully, that God’s mercy is found in the places we least expect: in our pain, in our loss, and even in our grief. As Saint John of Shanghai and San Francisco, that great 20th-century bishop and protector of the vulnerable, reminds us: “The Mother of God, in the greatness of Her mercy, does not leave without help those who turn to Her with faith.” She meets us in our need and becomes the “Joy” of our sorrow.
The Theotokos, Who knows suffering Herself, brings this joy not by taking away all our suffering but by entering into it with us. She shows us that God does not look down upon us in cold judgment, distant from our troubles, but rather enters into our pain. Our Blessed Mother Mary stands beside us, just as She stood at the foot of the Cross, and prays for each one of us with the same love She had for Her Son.
Our Orthodox tradition, rich with wisdom from both ancient and modern saints, has always called us to bring our suffering before God with honesty and humility. Saint John of Kronstadt once said, “When you meet with suffering, consider that it is an opportunity for you to see the mighty power of God.” In our culture, we often avoid or deny suffering, but the saints teach us to see it differently. It is in our sorrow that we find the presence of the Mother of God, the one who embraces our pain and turns it into a pathway to the divine.
Consider for a moment the icon itself. Around Her are those in need, each one seeking solace and healing. Some have wounds and sickness, some have grief, some have cares that seem unbearable. Yet, as they turn toward the Theotokos, their burdens become lighter. She, in Her perfect love, points them toward Christ, who alone can heal and redeem. In this way, the Theotokos shows us the pathway of faith: that in our sorrow, we can still find joy by turning to God with all our heart.
Saint Paisios of Mount Athos, a modern voice in the Orthodox Church, reminded us, “When there is sorrow and a person turns to the Panagia [the Mother of God], She always comes and helps.” He spoke of how, even in the smallest trials, we can find strength by calling on Her. She is the One who shows us that no suffering is without meaning, that in God’s mysterious plan, every trial can be transformed into a gift if it brings us closer to Him.
But what does this mean for us, here and now? It means that we, too, are called to bring this comfort and joy to others. Just as the Theotokos turns toward us in our sorrow, we are called to turn toward each other. We are called to enter into each other’s suffering with compassion, just as Christ and His Mother do. We are called to be a presence of peace and of kindness for one another, reflecting the love and mercy we ourselves have received.
Saint John of Shanghai and San Francisco spoke of this holy calling with urgency: “You must spread love among yourselves. Where there is love, there is God, and where God is, there is no sorrow.” In this light, let us ask ourselves: How can we become, even in some small way, a “Joy of All Who Sorrow” to those around us? Where can we be more compassionate, more patient, more open to others?
Brothers and sisters, today as we gaze upon this holy icon, let us offer our own sorrows to the Mother of God. Let us ask Her to enter into our hearts and transform our pain into a deeper love, a love that carries us to Christ and overflows to those around us. She is not distant from our lives, nor is She unmoved by our tears. She is here with us, praying for us, and guiding us to Her Son.
Let us leave today with the assurance of Her prayers and with a renewed commitment to embody Her compassion in our own lives. Through Her intercession, may we find healing, and may we bring Her joy to all who suffer.
Amen.
