O Lord save your people by thy Cross.

Homily on the third Sunday of the Great Lent

Hebrews 4: 14-5: 6; Mark 8: 24-9: 1.

To many people, the concept of the Holy Cross is something that is to be mocked. Yet for us Christians, it is one of the very foundations upon which our faith is built.

It is through the redemptive acts of our Lord and Saviour’s birth, death and resurrection that all have the ability to choose to cooperate with the Salvific Plan of our Lord and Saviour and ultimately through theosis (profound communion) become more like Him.

The Holy Cross might seem to be a sign of weakness and mediocrity! Many ask – how can people believe in a God who let Himself be crucified by His creation? Yet in this act, the God-man – Christ - revealed His deep love for mankind.

What seems to be foolishness is the very sign of the strength that we have in the Body of Christ- the Orthodox Church (1 Corinthians 1:18)! It is through the Holy Mysteries of Christ’s Church that we are given the strength that comes from putting on Christ.

This is why on the Feast’s of our Lord and Saviour we sing triumphantly in place of the Thrice Holy Hymn:

“All those who have been baptised into Christ have put on Christ, Alleluia (Galatians 3: 27).”

It is through the Mystery of Holy Baptism that we are joined to Christ through His body the Orthodox Church!

This Holy Mystery of Baptism joins us to Christ’s death in the flesh and ultimately to His resurrection - for by taking on our nature He has lifted our fallen nature through His resurrection making it possible for us to inherit eternal life!

Moreover, it is through this partaking in the Holy Mystery of the Eucharist that we are further joined to Christ - thus entering into a profound spiritual bond with Him.

Do not forget that our Lord and Saviour is adamant that to truly inherit eternal life we need to partake in the Holy Mystery of the Eucharist! Without receiving these Holy Mysteries one cannot live spiritually and inherit eternal life (John 6: 53).

Also, just as the All-Holy Trinity has free will; so do we His creations! This free will is the sign of us having been created in the All-Holy Trinity’s image (Genesis 1: 27). Meaning that we are the ones who choose whether we desire communion with the All-Holy Trinity - showing that conversion has to be by personal choice and unforced!

The table has been set, the invitations sent out, and the banquet is ready for all who truly desire to partake in the Wedding Feast of the Lamb!

Furthermore, never let us forget that there are many people who seek to mock us for our trust in the All-Holy Trinity. How many times does one turn on the television or radio to hear the name of our Lord and Saviour blasphemed?

How many times do the self-nominated- so-called celebrities - pontificate about their lack of belief in Christ?

Indeed, their only faith is in themselves, which in and of itself can only lead to spiritual emptiness for this belief is fuelled by spiritual arrogance and pride!

Whilst having self-belief is a good thing, without the guidance of the All-Holy Trinity, this self-belief can lead to one being deceived by the machinations of the Evil One. Spiritual arrogance can only ever lead to spiritual ruination!

Many in the world hunger for the truth and love of the All-Holy Trinity yet they get trapped in empty new Age movements that seek not their adherent's salvation but rather the emptying of their adherent's wallets.

These New Age leaders, much like the Tele-Evangelists, seek not the healing of their flocks but rather what they can make from them financially. Such as these are wolves in sheep’s clothing their words cold, calculating, and corrupt!

They suck in the little ones with sweet words offering a relief from life’s problems yet all they do is take without offering any viable solutions. Indeed, their words are like sour wine they sound nice but on closer inspection, they clearly smell fishy!

These faith leaders are like doctors who treat the symptoms of a disease as opposed to the cause of the disease!

After all, if a patient keeps coming back for treatment one can milk them for all that they are worth! This is in complete opposition to the spiritual healings that Christ offers His flock in the Holy Mysteries of His Orthodox Church!

Therefore, as members of His Body, we must truly go into the World and proclaim His Gospel.

This Gospel is the truth and as such, it is the All-Holy Trinity’s love letter to the world - He desires all to be offered the possibility of salvation if they so choose.

We must be examples of Christ’s love for all and not try and force the message of the Gospel on people.

There is much truth in the old adage – that one can bring a horse to water but one cannot make it drink. Thus, we must be beacons of Christ in the world and not like the Protestant Bible bashers who paint the truths of Christianity as if they are a nightmarish, joyless, barren wasteland!

Christianity is not meant to be a prison house. Rather, Christianity should be lived out with a sense of love and joy for the All-Holy Trinity loves us and wants to bestow a myriad of gifts and graces upon His people!

Furthermore, Christ is the Good Shepherd who seeks to gather up every lost sheep for He has a message of love, healing and hope for all should they choose to listen!

This is why the Song of Solomon has been revered in the Church for millennia as it is an allegorical representation of the love that the All-Holy Trinity has for His Church!

Finally, let us keep praying for peace in Eastern Europe as this war has ruined the lives of many poor souls! Let us pray that we as a world may wake up from our blindness and seek peace.

Let us remember the words of Psalm 133:

“Behold now, what is so good or so pleasant as for brothers to dwell in unity? It is like fragrant oil running down upon the beard of Aaron, running down the border of garment; it is like the dew of Hermon, running upon the mountain of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing and life forever.”

Let us pray that the bombs will cease - saving countless lives- for it is good for all mankind to live in unity and love!

Moreover, I request that each and every one of you ask the All-Holy Theotokos to intercede to her Son for her beloved Russian and Ukrainian people.

Russia and Ukraine since their conversion to Orthodoxy have always held the All-Holy Theotokos in the greatest esteem – there are more Orthodox Churches named after the All-Holy Theotokos- many more than in any other part of the World!

Even in the dark days of Communism, the underground Orthodox Church kept the truth of Orthodoxy alive and well! One only has to read the stories of the many Holy Martyrs who bravely kept the faith alive in Russia and Ukraine! There can be no doubt that Russia and Ukraine never lost their faith!

Therefore, there is no need for a consecration to be done by a Heterodox religious leader in the west. Moreover, consecration is a Holy act that cannot be done without the consent of the people being consecrated.

Therefore to try and consecrate lands that are already Christian – with a long history of being so – is to show one's spiritual arrogance and disregard for the Orthodox people of these lands!

Perhaps those doing such supposed consecrations should look at what is happening in their own weed-choked backyard before interfering in the affairs of others!