|
|
|
3rd Sunday in Lent (Veneration of the Holy Cross, Ocala 2006) "For the preaching of the Cross, to them that perish is foolishness; but unto us who are saved, it is the power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:18 This 18th verse of chapter one from St. Paul's first epistle to the Corinthians pretty well describes the power of preaching of the Cross. To the lost it is foolishness, but to the saved it is the power of God. The power of the Cross is at the center of the Universe. The most cruel and shameful death until the Lord's time was death upon the cross. However, the Lord's crucifixion changed this picture for all time. The dishonored death by being hung on a cross, becomes the most honored symbol, when the Lord gave up the spirit on the cross. Today, the 3rd Sunday in Lent our Holy Orthodox Church pays special homage to the Holy Cross. This special Holy Day has been observed since the early centuries of Christianity, when the Holy Fathers of the Church specifically scheduled this Day to have the faithful focus on the veneration of the Holy Cross, precisely set at mid-Lent. They knew well the psychology of humans. The 40 day Lenten period of prayer and fasting --- of sacrificing and performing good works, was a perfect way to introduce us to the Holy Passion of Holy Week culminating with the Lord's glorious Resurrection, was indeed a long stretch so to speak. In order that Christians would not weaken, and to further bolster their faith, the Holy Fathers brought the Holy Cross into greater focus. This unique instrument of our salvation is a constant reminder of the supreme Sacrifice our Lord and Saviour made, so that all people would be saved.As the Symbol of our Faith, the Cross is an inexhaustible source of spiritual power and regeneration. Having then finished the first half of the Lenten journey, we receive today renewed strength and spiritual vigor, to continue and complete the last half of the Lenten period. This situation is similar to a runner in a race. Without question, a runner may feel weakened reaching the half mark, but he receives strength and recharges himself, either by his resolve to win the race, or even from the support of those cheering by the wayside, giving him courage to keep running and to win. During this Holy Day, as the Cross of Christ has lovingly been placed in the center of our Orthodox Churches for our veneration, we sense deeply in our hearts the two-fold meaning. Firstly, that the Cross is a sign of Christ's love for all of us, and secondly, a sign of what our love for Christ should be. One of the many hymns in today's Matins states: "Seeing today the precious Cross of Christ laid down, let us adore it in faith; rejoicing and embracing it with longing; imploring the Lord, Who was willingly crucified on it, to make us worthy to adore the precious Cross, and to reach the Day of Resurrection free from all condemnation." As Christians we must think very deeply of what our Lord's Sacrifice means to each one of us. As the worst of the criminals, the Lord's enemies, consumed with jealousy, condemned Him to the most horrible and disgraceful death. Which one of us can amply describe the tremendous physical pain leading to a slow death, being nailed to the Cross, and hanging in agony under the scorching afternoon sun? Moreover, who can describe the deep spiritual pain, and the separation, which Jesus experienced, when He died, so as to grant us eternal life? We get some inkling of the Lord's indescribable agony, when we hear Him saying to His Father: "My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?" Matthew 27:46. However, through His death by this most shameful method of punishment, the cross became the glory of Christians, and the eternal symbol of our salvation. The Lord in His teachings also spoke emphatically of the cross, that each of us must bear to follow after Him, when he said: "Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me." Mark 8:34. We all have some cross to bear, and the weight of our cross indeed becomes lighter, when it is bolstered with faith, and our submitting to the will of God. That is why in Matthew 10:38 the Lord says: "And he who does not take up his cross, and follow me is not worthy of Me!" The Lord further stresses the point of our cross becoming lighter when we live within his realm, as follows: "Come unto Me all you who labour and are heavily laden, and I shall give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek, and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest unto your soul. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30 We see people daily, who lift and carry many crosses, much heavier than the Lord's, which ultimately leads them to catastrophe. For instance, the miser lifts the weight of his wealth, ready at any time to sacrifice to protect his riches. The arrogant and vainly ambitious person will do anything, to achieve his or her purpose. The inebriate and hedonist live only for the pleasures of the flesh. These, and many other examples we can think of, are people carrying burdensome crosses, which ultimately envelopes them in a swift current to have them fall over the cataracts of catastrophe.. Yes, the Lord reassured us. He will not give us a cross heavier than the weight we can bear. We have so many examples of people carrying their cross of usefulness in life. Some, even paid the supreme sacrifice for the love of the Lord. Who can forget the Archdeacon St. Stephen, the first martyr of the Christian Church. He defied the leaders of Judaism then, and as a result was stoned to death. The list of Martyrs, and the Saints we venerate who followed in the same path is indeed endless. They picked up their cross, and sensed the comfort of serving the Lord, even unto death. They gave substance to St. Paul's words in his epistle to the Philippians, Chapter 2, verses 7-11: "Jesus took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men; and being found in the form of a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore, God also has highly exalted Him, and given Him a name, which is above every name; that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, of things in Heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." St. Paul, the Lord's ardent follower, thoroughly understood the Lord's sacrifice. In his Epistle to the Galatians, Chapter 2, verse 20 he states: "I am crucified with Christ. Nevertheless I live; yet, not I, but Christ lives in me. And the life which I live now in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me." What a profound and unshakeable belief! If only we could be as worthy to utter these words! "I live. Yet, not I, but Christ lives in me!" I think it is very important for our spiritual growth, to open our Bibles when we read my sermons in the bulletin. We should read and meditate on the Biblical verses, to which I refer. St. John the Chrysostom, who gave us our Liturgy some 1600 years ago, deeply admired the sacrificial spirit of St. Paul. He emulated him in a remarkable way, and speaks of Paul as being a standard-bearer for Christ. He says: "When the standard bearer of the Emperor, preceded by trumpeters, and escorted by a throng of soldiers, enters any city, it is the usual thing for everyone to converge, and see the standard borne aloft. St. Paul also is a standard bearer; but not of any earthly emperor; the standard which he carries, is the Cross of Christ, our Heavenly Lord." "Paul," St. John continues, "carried the Cross, not that he might carry it alone, but that he might make all others like himself, and teach them also, how to bear the Cross. It is for this reason that Paul says: 'Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ'." Thus spoke St. John the Chrysostom. During this Great Day then, as the Cross of Christ has lovingly been placed in the center of our Orthodox Churches for our reverence, may we sense deeply in our heart the two-fold meaning, which I mentioned earlier: that the Cross is a sign of Christ's love for all of us, and in return it is a sign, of what our love for Christ should be. +Fr. George Papadeas
|
|
Back to home page
Send mail to
epantaz@yahoo.com with
questions or comments about this web site.
|