THEOSISAmbrose of Milan
Naomi, though she had suffered the loss of her two sons and husband and was stripped of the fruits of her motherhood, did not lack the rewards of her faith. In her grief, she discovered solace and through her poverty, found support. This illustrates for us, pious women, the wealth that the widow possessed in her virtuous offspring and the fruits of her good deeds: those virtues were her safeguard against despair. The noble widow felt no deficiency in her life; while it is true that she faced advanced age and severe poverty, she still received the typical blessings of wisdom. Though she had no close kin, she found care from others who treated her with maternal affection and honored her in the manner of a father.
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Despite her limited resources, they willingly compensated her for her teachings, providing her with sustenance and covering her expenses.
It is often believed that a widow's days are filled with sorrow, spent in perpetual mourning. Yet, she is truly blessed, as through her small sorrows she purchases eternal joy, swiftly attaining everlasting life. There is a wise saying regarding such individuals: 'Blessed are you who weep, for you will laugh' (Luke 6:21). Therefore, who would choose the fleeting illusions of present joys over the fulfillment of future bliss? Do we scorn the one who is deemed the illustrious ancestor of the Lord’s lineage, who, having consumed ashes as his sustenance and mixed his drink with tears, found in those evening sorrows the joy of a new dawn (Psalm 101:10)? The joyful outcome came only through abundant tears, as if he had traded his weeping for the delight of eternal glory.
The widow possesses a remarkable path to honor; it lies in her mourning for the world alongside her spouse. Let her keep those redeeming tears close, which, when offered for the departed, can bring benefit to the living. The tears shed express inner sorrow, yet they inspire compassion, lessen burdens, alleviate distress, and uphold purity. Thus, she who derives solace from her tears no longer sees herself as wretched: those tears encapsulate both the rewards of love and the responsibilities of devotion.