Caesarius of Arles

 Homily #6 on Ecclesiastes

Let no one believe that he possesses

any happiness or true joy in this

world.  Happiness can be prepared for,

but it cannot be possessed here.  Two

times succeed each in their own order,

"a time to weep and a time to laugh."

Let no one deceive himself, brethren;

there is no time to laugh in this world.

I know, indeed, that everyone wants to

rejoice, but people do not all look for

joy in the place where it should be sought.

True joy never did exist in this world,

it does not so now, and it never will.  For

thus the Lord himself warned his disciples

in the Gospel when he said, "You will suffer

in the world (Gospel of John 16:33)" and

again "While the world rejoices, you will

grieve for a time, but your grief will be

turned into joy (Gospel of John 16:20)."

For this reason, with the Lord's help

let us do good in this life through labor

and sorrow, so that in the future life we

may be able to gather the fruits of our

good deeds with joy and exultation

according to that sentence,

"Those that sow in tears shall reap

rejoicing! (Psalm 125: 5 LXX transl).

Caesarius of Arles SERMONS (Fathers of

the Church series) translator Sister Mary

Magdeleine Mueller.  Caesarius of Arles,

France lived and served the church (470 - 

543 C.E.)