Homily for the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord
By Holy Hieromartyr Sergius Mechev
By Holy Hieromartyr Sergius Mechev
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit!
There are two understandings of the feasts of the Church and two attitudes toward them: a worldly one and a spiritual one. The worldly understanding consists in thinking that we must not forget events that took place in ancient times, and that we gather in church on these days in order to “remember” them. Such an attitude toward the feasts is the fruit of an “ideological,” or merely conceptual, understanding of Christianity.
For those who understand Christianity in this way, Christianity is reduced to certain religious and moral ideas about which one can speak, which one can accept intellectually, and with which one can even become fired up for a time.
This “ideological” understanding of Christianity is a condemnation against us; it kills true Christian life within us. The worst thing for us would be to be called ideological Christians. Therefore, we must struggle against this “ideological” character in Christianity, overcome it within ourselves if it is present in us, and strive for another understanding of Christianity, a spiritual one.
The opposite of this—the spiritual understanding of Christianity—proceeds from the fact that Christ brought to earth not a new idea, but a new life.
"I am the Resurrection and the Life" (John 11:25). Christ taught us not to talk, but to live. Therefore, if we wish to follow Him, we must live in Christ. He showed us the way in this life, and He Himself is "the Way, the Truth, and the Life" (John 14:6). He demands that we follow Him not in words, but in deed: "Learn from Me, for I am meek and humble in heart" (Matthew 11:29).
Such an attitude toward Christianity obliges us to adopt a new understanding of the feasts—not a worldly understanding, but a spiritual one. According to this understanding, their meaning lies not in remembering events that once took place, but in spiritually entering into that which was accomplished “for us men and for our salvation.” This applies fully to the present feast as well.
The Holy Fathers teach us that it is not enough merely to think or speak about Christ, and that it is not enough merely to venerate verbally the Cross upon which Christ was crucified.
If we truly wish to venerate the Cross of Christ, we must do so not merely according to tradition, not because this is what is customary, and not merely “in words,” but by actually venerating Christ Crucified.
To take up our cross and follow after Christ, to be crucified with Him—this is the true path of the Christian. The Lord leads us to this when He says: "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me" (Mark 8:34). This is where Christianity begins. Its beginning is self-denial, the struggle against the passions living in our hearts, and being crucified with Christ upon the cross that the Lord has given to each one of us.
True veneration of the Cross begins from the moment when we begin, even a little, even in the smallest degree, to work upon our souls, to struggle against our passions, such as envy, pride and anger; when we begin to work so that a new attitude toward our neighbors may be born within us. For our attitude toward our neighbors is precisely the true work for which Christ came. This is the true ascetic struggle; this is Christianity. But that about which we “speak” (and even become “fired up” about) may also come from the devil. For the devil too knows about God and knows the Holy Scripture, but he has no struggle within himself for the Kingdom of God. Christ, however, came in order to make us sons of this Kingdom.
If we truly wish to be Christians, if today we wish to venerate the Honorable and Life-giving Cross of the Lord, if we truly believe that Christ was crucified upon this Cross “for us men and for our salvation,” then we must follow His word addressed to us. And He, the Crucified One, calls us also to be crucified with Him upon our own cross. Then we will truly begin the Christian life, which consists not in “ideology,” not in “beautiful” words, but in the actual reality of serving Him, our Lord, and our neighbor.
Let us therefore realize why we have come here today. What are we celebrating, what are we rejoicing in? Let us pray that the Lord will enlighten our hearts and grant us to understand what our true work is. Then we will read the Holy Gospel through our deeds. Then our crucifixion with the Lord upon our own cross will begin for us. "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me." Amen.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
