Father Vincent tells Kumalo that the sorrow he feels over his son is an improvement over fear, for the sorrow can enrich him
Father Vincent's "advocation" for Kumalo's sorrow might be best understood as a gesture of solidarity. In the Christian tradition, sorrow is often accepted as a gift from God because Christ himself says that his followers should "take up their cross daily." Father Vincent is trying to say that Kumalo's pain is a sign of his identity as a Christian brother. Fear, on the other hand, is a sign of alienation from God and his people because it implies a lack of trust.
Luke 9:23
