A Homily for the Sunday of the Veneration of the Cross

Since before our eyes lies the Cross of the Lord for reverent veneration and kissing, whose power is often proclaimed in the church’s prayers and hymns, I wish to say to you, beloved, a few words concerning its power, or concerning its miracles. In attempting to speak of this, on the one hand I see everywhere the wonder-working power of it, and I do not know where to fix my attention, which instance to take as an example of the life-giving power of the Cross; and I see also the great reverence with which people of old honored the life-giving Cross; on the other hand—alas!—I see very few examples of its power in the people of our time—and thereupon I see immediately the reason why it shows so little of its wonder-working power: namely, for the same reason that the Lord worked few miracles in His own country—from ignorance, from ungodly, unchristian life among Christians. So, beloved brothers, the history of the Christian Church presents very many examples of the wonder-working power of the Cross—because there was then greater faith in people, more true Christians; the life-giving Cross is glorified even now, but now we see far fewer examples of its wonder-working, namely only in those few people who live by faith.

The holy ascetics of Christ marveled at the constant life-giving power of the Cross of the Lord, working in their lives, and in the humility of their hearts, fearing that such power would not abandon them, wretched and sinful as they were, surrounded always by invisible enemies, and often by visible ones as well, they prayed alone: O unconquerable, incomprehensible, divine power of the honored and life-giving cross, do not abandon us sinners. With full assurance in its wonder-working and in amazement at its power to drive away invisible enemies, rejoicing in heart they cried out to the cross: Rejoice, O precious and life-giving cross of the Lord, driving away demons by the power of Him crucified upon you, our Lord Jesus Christ, and bestowing upon us your honored cross for the expulsion of every enemy, and without any doubt they spoke to it as to one living: O precious and life-giving cross of the Lord, help me with the most holy Lady, the Mother of God, and with all the saints forever.

One cannot but be moved in heart when reading the praises with which they magnified the life-giving cross; they called it the four-pointed power, the all-powerful cross, the glory of apostles, the strength of martyrs, the fortress of righteous men, for the infirm—healing, for the dead—resurrection, for the fallen—restoration, for the passions—mortification, for unclean thoughts—expulsion, the foundation of piety, the destroyer of demons, the ruin of the ungodly, the shame of enemies on the terrible day of judgment. As to one living they spoke to it: O cross! be for me power, strength and dominion, deliverer and foremost warrior against my warring enemies, shield and guardian, victory and my fortress, ever guarding and covering me.

In general they called the image of the cross indescribable in its power, the sanctification of waters, the purification of the air, the sanctification and illumination for every faithful Christian, the sign of courage and Christ’s scepter, treading down the adversaries to the earth. Not knowing how worthily to glorify its power, they cried out: Who could recount all your deeds, O cross beloved by the world—the powers and miracles and the raising of the dead by your power? You drew up with yourself all the world, that is, the chosen Christians, as You Yourself ascended to God.

Do you find, beloved, the Cross of the Lord to be for you as it was for those holy men? No, I answer for the majority of you. The cross does not work miracles in your life. Why? Through our unbelief. The cross itself is always wondrous and life-giving. For Christians faithful to it, even now through their faith and reverence, it is faithful too, as the truest and most steadfast friend. O, who would give me the zeal of God and the power of word to awaken in the Christians of our time a living faith and proper reverence for the cross and for Him crucified upon it! I know that many are negligent toward the cross and the sign of the cross. Sometimes negligence and disrespect for the cross extends so far that they do not receive one who comes to their house bearing the cross, speaking in the name of the cross and the servant of Christ; others refuse to make, as is proper, the sign of the cross on their sinful body, or they neglect priestly blessing; sometimes this is done from carelessness, but sometimes—O horror!—from false, accursed shame. Are you ashamed of the cross, beloved, which is our praise and glory? I warn you in time: and “the Son of Man will be ashamed of you when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels” (Mk 8:38).

Beloved! Let us always honor the Cross of the Lord with faith and love; and it will be our friend, our savior—not through itself, but by the power of Him crucified upon it. Amen.