A homily for the Elevation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross
By Bishop Mitrophan (Znosko-Borovsky)
Before our eyes is the Holy Cross with the image of the Lord, our Savior. In our thoughts we travel to Golgotha and see how blood streams from the feet, hands, and head of the Savior. And we ask ourselves this question: Why did Christ suffer? Why was it necessary for the Creator of the world to humble Himself so, to tolerate insults and torments, and to suffer so?
The Lord Himself provides us with an answer to the first question. He says: "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:14-16).
According to the Lord's words, faith leads a person into eternal life. However, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21). And also, "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15). And so, a truly believing person is not one who just accepts Christ as the Son of God and as his Lord, but one who does His Will and fulfills His commandments. "The Lord is our life."... Only he who, according to his faith and love for Christ, strives to fuse his will with the Gospels, with Christ, has the right to call himself a believing Christian. Ask for this, and strive for it!
Our second question--Why did the Lord have to display humility leading to suffering on the Cross?--is answered by the Merciful One Himself, from the Cross: "I came down from heaven, so that you might ascend unto the heavens; I have humbled myself, so as to raise you up who are degraded; I have impoverished Myself, so as to give wealth to you who are impoverished; I have received wounds, so as to heal you who are wounded; I died, so as to give life to you who are dead; you have sinned, but I have taken your sin upon Myself; you are at fault, but I have accepted the punishment; you are the debtor, but I have paid the debt for you; you have been condemned to death, but I have died for you."
Yes, my dear ones--it is for us that the Savior carried the Cross of Golgotha. And the Cross of the Lord tells us not to let up in our efforts, in our life's struggle. We are not alone: Christ walks before us. He proceeded from a humble manger, from Gethsemane to Golgotha, and through the Cross He arrived at the Resurrection: "he became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."
Our earthly path, my dear ones, is the path of the Cross. Our life's cross is salvific for us, for it nourishes the renewal and rebirth of our souls. It should not seem beyond our strength, for He Who walks before us helps us carry it.
Through Golgotha--by way of carrying our cross with humility and faithfulness to our Lord Jesus--we also proceed to the joy of the Resurrection, bowing down to the Life-Creating Cross of the Lord and glorifying God's Love for mankind which was crucified on it. Amen.