The answer
Joyful tears that are full of hope and confidence in the Savior, intercede for the soul before God so that her hidden voice may be heard, and her broken evil will may be transformed to a good will. If sin destroys holy thoughts and buries them in the dust, the tears of repentance intercede before Him who is the Resurrection that He may revive the soul and that it may be strengthened in the Lord, experiencing the words of the prophet: “Let the weak say, I am strong” (Joel 3:10). The soul renews her inner beauty and hears the voice of her Beloved saying, “You are all fair, my love, and there is no spot in you” (Song. 4:7).
St. Jacob of Sarug says, “O repentance … the sound of your agony comes to God … pursuers hurled me with arrows of sin. Like a spear, sin is lodged within me. It is good for you, O my soul, to weep for those, for there will be a good reward for your overflowing tears.”
Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty