When we reflect upon the present state of the Holy Church throughout the world, so different from that which was promised to her in prophecy, the doubt is apt to suggest itself to us, whether it is right to rejoice when there is so much to mourn over and to fear. When men discern duly the forlorn state in which the spouse of Christ at present lies, how can they have the heart to rejoice? The desponding soul falls back when it makes the effort; it is not equal to the ceremonial which comes natural to light hearts, and at best but coldly obeys what they anticipate without being bidden. "How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?" Yet since there is some danger of over-sensitiveness in this matter, it may be useful to make some remarks upon it.
I. This then must be ever kept in mind when such thoughts arise within us that cheerfulness and lightness of heart are not only privileges but duties. Cheerfulness is a great Christian duty. That sorrow, that solicitude, that fear, that repentance, is not Christian which has not its portion of Christian joy. For "God is greater than our hearts," and no evil, past or future, within or without, is equal to this saying that Christ has died and reconciled the world unto Himself. We are ever in His presence, be we cast down or be we exalted, and "in His presence is the fulness of joy."
II. Even the Jews attempted to rejoice in captivity, though it was prophesied against them, "I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation;" whereas the very reverse is graciously assured in the text to the Gospel Church, that her times of humiliation should be times of rejoicing. We have a still more remarkable and solemn instance of the duty of keeping festival and rejoicing, even in the darkest day, in our Lord's own history. If there was a season in which gloom was allowable, it was on the days and hours before His Passion; but He who came to bring joy on earth and not sorrow, even in that awful time kept the feast nay, anticipated it, as if though He Himself was to be the very Paschal Lamb, still He was not thereby excused from sharing in the typical rite. And a few days before it He took part in a public and, as it were, triumphant pageant, as though the bitterness of death had been already past.
J. H. Newman, Sermons on Subjects of the Day,p 381.
References: Zechariah 8:19. A. Mursell, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xx., p. 93; Plain Sermons by Contributors to" Tracts for the Times," vol. x., p. 239. Zechariah 8:21. Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. xix., No. 1107; A. F. Barfield, Christian World Pulpit, vol.iv., p. 215.Zechariah 8:23. W. Jay, Thursday Penny Pulpit,vol. iii., p. 37. Zechariah 8 W. Lindsay Alexander, Homiletic Magazine,vol. vii., p. 309. Zechariah 9:1-8. Ibid.,vol. viii., p. 42.Zechariah 9:9. Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. xxxi., No. 1861; J. E. Vaux, Sermon Notes,3rd series, p. 78. Zechariah 9:9; Zechariah 9:10. W. Lindsay Alexander, Homiletic Magazine,vol. viii., p. 109. Zechariah 9:11; Zechariah 9:12. Spurgeon, My Sermon Notes: Ecclesiastes to Malachi,p. 371.Zechariah 9:11-17. Ibid.,p. 216.