Joy

This is the voice of the Bridegroom and of the Bride, that is to say, sweet cogitations of Christ, wholesome exhortations, pleasant songs or Psalms, praises and thanksgivings, whereby the godly do instruct, stir up and refresh themselves. Therefore God loves not heaviness and dolefulness of spirit: he hates uncomfortable doctrine, heavy and sorrowful cogitations, and loves cheerful hearts. For therefore has he sent his son, not to oppress us with heaviness and sorrow, but to cheer up our souls in him. For this cause the Prophets, the Apostles, and Christ himself do exhort us, indeed they command us to rejoice and be glad (Zechariah 9). Rejoice, you daughter of Zion, be joyful, you daughter of Jerusalem, for behold your king comes to you. And in the Psalms it is often said: Be joyful in the Lord. Paul says: Rejoice in the Lord always, etc. And Christ says: Rejoice because your names are written in heaven. Where this joy of the spirit is, there the heart inwardly rejoices through faith in Christ, with full assurance that he is our Savior and our bishop, and outwardly it expresses this joy with words and gestures. Also the faithful rejoice when they see that the Gospel spreads abroad, that many be won to the faith, and that the kingdom of Christ is enlarged.

Joy is the voice of the Bridegroom and the Bride — the sweet thoughts of Christ, healthy encouragement, joyful songs and psalms, praises and thanksgivings, by which the godly instruct, stir up, and refresh one another. God does not love heaviness and gloom of spirit — He hates grim and joyless teaching, dark and sorrowful thoughts, and He loves cheerful hearts. He sent His Son precisely not to weigh us down with grief and sorrow, but to fill our souls with joy in Him. For this reason the prophets, the apostles, and Christ Himself do not merely suggest but command us to rejoice and be glad (Zechariah 9): 'Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you.' The Psalms repeatedly say: 'Be joyful in the Lord.' Paul says: 'Rejoice in the Lord always.' And Christ says: 'Rejoice that your names are written in heaven.' Where this spiritual joy is present, the heart inwardly rejoices through faith in Christ, fully assured that He is our Savior and our High Priest — and outwardly this joy expresses itself in words and gestures. The faithful also rejoice when they see the Gospel spreading, many being won to the faith, and the kingdom of Christ expanding.