Ps 125:6

“How, my brethren? When the farmer goeth forth with the plough, carrying seed, is not the wind sometimes keen, and doth not the shower sometimes deter him? He looketh to the sky, seeth it lowering, shivers with cold, nevertheless goeth forth, and soweth. For he feareth lest while he is observing the foul weather, and awaiting sunshine, the time may pass away, and he may not find anything to reap. Put not off, my brethren; sow in wintry weather, sow good works, even while ye weep; for, "They that sow in tears, shall reap in joy." They sow their seed, good will, and good works. "They went on their way and wept, casting their seed" (ver. 6). Why did they weep? Because they were among the miserable, and were themselves miserable. It is better, my brethren, that no man should be miserable, than that thou shouldest do alms. ...Nevertheless, as long as there are objects for its exercise, let us not fail amid those troubles to sow our seed. Although we sow in tears, yet shall we reap in joy. For in that resurrection of the dead, each man shall receive his own sheaves, that is, the produce of his seed, the crown of joys and of delight. Then will there be a joyous triumph, when we shall laugh at death, wherein we groaned before: then shall they say to death, "O death, where is thy strife? O death, where is thy sting?" But why do they now rejoice? Because "they bring their sheaves with them."”

“It is therefore fitting, brothers, that these things be said to you. Pay attention to the poor, whether lying down or walking: pay attention to the poor, do good works. Those who are accustomed to do so, do so: and those who are not accustomed to do so, do so. Let the number of those doing good increase: for the number of the faithful also increases. What you do, how good it is you do not yet see: for the farmer too, when he sows, does not see the crop, but trusts the soil. Why do you not trust God? Our harvest will come. Think that we are now laboring, laboring to receive, as it is written: They went forth and wept, casting their seeds; but they will come with exultation, bringing their sheaves.”

“The psalm that is sung to the Lord seems fitting for the holy martyrs, but if we are members of Christ, as we ought to be, let us understand that it pertains to all of us: Those who sow in tears will reap in joy. They went forth and wept, casting their seeds. But coming, they shall come in exultation, bearing their sheaves. Where are they going forth from and where are they coming to? What are they sowing in tears? What are the seeds? What are the sheaves? They go forth to death, they come from death. They go forth by being born, they come by rising again. Sowing good deeds, they reap an eternal reward. Therefore, the seeds are ours, whatever good we have done; our sheaves are what we will receive at the end. If, therefore, the seeds are good, good deeds, why with tears, when God loves a cheerful giver? First, see here, beloved, how these words most pertain to the blessed martyrs. For none have expended themselves as much as those who have given themselves, as the Apostle Paul says: "And I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls." For they have given themselves, confessing Christ, and fulfilling with His help what is said: "When you sit at a great table, know that such things are necessary for you to prepare." What is the great table if not where we receive the body and blood of Christ? What does it mean: "Know that such things are necessary for you to prepare," if not what the blessed John explains: "As Christ laid down His life for us, so we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren"? See how greatly they expended themselves. But did they perish when they received security from the Lord even regarding a hair? Does a hand perish, where a hair does not perish? Does a head perish, where a hair does not perish? Where an eyelash does not perish, does an eye perish? Therefore, with this great received security, they gave themselves. Therefore, let us sow good works while it is time, as the Apostle says: "He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly." Tirelessly, he says, let us do good to all as we have the opportunity, especially to those who are of the household of faith. And again: "Let us not grow weary in doing good; for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." He who fails in sowing will not rejoice at the harvest.”

“Therefore, I said this so that we do not expect the reward of our sowing in this time when we have sown. Here indeed we sow the harvest of good works with labor, but in the future, we will gather its fruits with joy, according to what is written: "Going, they went and wept, casting their seeds; but coming, they will come with exultation, bearing their sheaves."”

“I beseech you with fatherly solicitude, equally admonishing and exhorting you, as was already said, to endeavor continually to read the sacred lessons yourselves or willingly to listen to others read them. By thus always thinking over in the treasury of your heart what is just and holy, you may prepare for your souls an eternal spiritual food that will bring you endless bliss. Christ does not lie when he says in the person of his apostle, "What a person sows, that he will also reap." With God's help let us endeavor to continually plant in the field of our heart by reading, praying and performing good works those deeds whereof we may reap a harvest of justice and mercy on the future day of retribution. Then will be fulfilled in us what is written: "Going, they went and wept, casting their seeds. But coming, they shall come with joyfulness, carrying their sheaves." To this happiness may the good Lord lead you, who, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns world without end.”

“Good works are the seeds, good pursuits are the seeds; tears are the seeds. They went, he says, and wept, casting their seeds. But what? Shall they weep forever? Far from it! But they shall come with exultation, carrying their sheaves. Rightly with exultation, when they carry back the sheaves of glory. This, you say, will be at the resurrection on the last day, and the waiting is too long. Do not be broken in spirit, do not fail from faintheartedness of spirit; you have in the meantime from the first fruits of the Spirit what you may reap in exultation for the present. Sow, he says, for yourselves unto justice, reap the hope of life. He does not send you now to the last day, when the thing will already be in reality and not in hope; but he speaks of the present. Truly great is the joy and much and exceedingly great the exultation, when life shall have come.”