We must do everything for Christ (once we are Christians or catechumens – we belong to Christ, as Christ belongs to us, and live not for ourselves, but for Christ, just as the Lord came to serve us and save us!), and therefore we must always be in joy: “Rejoice always! Give thanks in everything!” – we do and serve for the Beloved, who loved us so much that He gave Himself completely to us, and took all our evil (sin) from us! And what did He take from us when we have nothing of our own? Our evil, sin, blasphemy – hell! That is, the Lord has given us Paradise-Delight, and taken from us hell-suffering! How can one serve the Lord Jesus Christ (the Father, who sent His Beloved Son to save us, the Holy Spirit, who gives the power to Love the Beloved!), that is, the mystery of my salvation, allowing the Lord to serve me, save me (“wash my feet,” “clothe me in wedding garments”) without joy?! Glory to You, God! Glory to You, God! Glory to You, God, for everything forever!
So, a Christian (and a catechumen) does everything in joy, that is, all the labors of “selling everything,” emptying oneself of everything that is an obstacle to inheriting the Kingdom of God; in joy fights with passions, demons, thoughts; in joy takes on (with prudence and counsel!!!) and performs all possible feats and labors (for the sake of destroying the idols of passions of pride-egoism, and acquiring God-receptive humility – “poverty of spirit”); in joy accepts in this work of salvation (= receiving the Kingdom of God, acquiring the Body of Christ, divinization) help – the mercy of God – tribulations, diseases, sufferings, calamities, various trials; endures everything in joy and thanksgiving, knowing that “through many tribulations we must enter the Kingdom of God.” (In the last times, we – lazy, relaxed, inert – are saved only by this mercy of God: with thanksgiving to accept the external cross, for feats, without harm (falling into pride), we are no longer fit). Whoever calls himself a Christian (or catechumen) and is not in joy-thanksgiving – is in delusion and serves not Christ, but anti-Christ (for he seeks earthly, carnal comfort, not the Holy Spirit!).
Christianity begins with joy, and over time, with proper spiritual life, this joy only grows, until it reaches the fullness of infinity. If there is no joy – it means that a person has not entered Christianity, but into religion or Satanism, which presents itself as the Orthodox Church.
You are sad because you are sinful, because you sin – the Savior Lord Jesus Christ has come and healed us, and gives healing to all who come to Him! You are sad because you are a slave of passions-desires – the Liberator has come and has given Freedom to all, and gives power (the Holy Spirit) to be free to all who entrust themselves to Him! You are sad because you are poor, miserable, disadvantaged – the Kingdom of God has come for all, and now those who have renounced themselves, taken up their crosses, and with joy follow Christ live in It (the Kingdom of God, the Holy Spirit) here and now!.. Believing (Orthodox) in Christ, it is impossible not to rejoice (regardless of where you are – catechumen or already in Marriage with Christ). Can one get married to the beloved and be sad, and not rejoice?! Lovers rejoice even before the wedding, and after marriage – even more so! (Here is a sign of the true path to the Kingdom of God, here is a sign of a Christian or one announced by the
Orthodox Church – constant joy for Christ, in Christ). “You did not choose Me, but I chose you!” A Christian (the bride of Christ, the wife of Christ) is the one chosen by Christ and given the pledge of the Holy Spirit. Election does not depend on us – it is a Gift of God (all good (and good thoughts, and good desires) in our life – it is a Gift of God)! What a joy it is – the Lord (the Most Beautiful of all the Sons of Men, the Most Desired) has chosen me (utterly worthless, a loathsome sinful creature)! He confessed His love to me (on the Cross!), called me to marry, took me as His wife! What a joy! The Lord is always faithful, though I often betray Him. So tell me, how can a catechumen chosen by Christians (who has joyfully given himself into slavery to Christ, to bear the labors and feats of preparation for baptism into the Body of Christ) not rejoice? As for Christians, such a question is shameful even to ask, so obvious is the answer to it (at least for those who have grasped a little of what we have narrated above).
Do everything for Christ (you are Christ’s!). And he who does-serves (= gives thanks) for Christ, for the sake of Christ (Who loved us so much and served us and still serves!), cannot but rejoice. The struggle with passions, demons, thoughts is a joy – for the sake of the Lord! Patience of diseases, calamities, tribulations, persecutions, sufferings – in joy, for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ (Who suffered so much for us that it is impossible even to imagine!). The Apostles, martyrs, all saints rejoiced, suffering, enduring unspeakable torments for Christ, for His Name!