ON THE PRECIOUS AND LIFE-GIVING CROSS

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God, and Savior,

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

On the Precious and Life-Giving Cross
By Saint Gregory Palamas

THE CROSS OF CHRIST was mysteriously proclaimed in advance and foreshadowed from generations of old and no one was ever reconciled withGod except by the power of the Cross. After our First Parents transgressed against God through the tree in Paradise, sin came to life, but we died, submitting, even before physical death, TO THE DEATH OF THE SOUL, ITS SEPARATION FROM GOD. After the transgression we lived in sin and according to the flesh. Sin "is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God" [Romans 8:7-8].

As the Holy Apostle Paul says, "The flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh" [Galatians 5:17]. God, however, is Spirit, ABSOLUTE GOODNESS AND VIRTUE, and our own spirit is after His image and likeness, although sin has made it good for nothing. So how could anyone at all be spiritually renewed and reconciled with God, unless sin and life according to the flesh had been abolished? The Cross of Christ IS THIS ABOLITION OF SIN. One of our God-bearing Fathers was asked by an unbeliever if he really believed in Christ crucified. "Yes," he replied, "I BELIEVE IN HIM WHO CRUCIFIED SIN," God Himself has borne witness that there were many who were His friends before and after the law, when the Coss had not yet been revealed. David, the King and Prophet, says, as if there were definitely friends of God in his day, "How precious also are thy friends unto me, O God!" [Psalm 139:17]. I shall not show you, if you listen attentively for the love of God, how it was that people were called friends of God before the Cross.

Although the man of sin, the son of lawlessness[cf 2 Thessalonians 2:3], by which I mean Antichrist, has not yet come, the theologian whom Christ loved says, "Even now, Beloved, there is antichrist" [cf 1 John 2:18]. In the same way; the Cross existed in the time of our ancestors, even before it was accomplished. The Great Paul teaches us absolutely clearly that Antichrist is among us, even though he has not yet come, saying, "HIS MYSTERY DOTH ALREADY WORK IN YOU" [cf 2 Thessalonians 2:7]. In exactly the same way Christ’s Cross was among our forefathers before it came into being, because its mystery was working in them.

To follow Christ means TO LIVE ACCORDING TO HIS GOSPELAND TO GIVE PROOF OF EVERY VIRTUE AND OF TRUE PIETY. The fact that anyone wishing to follow Him MUST DENY HIMSELF AND TAKE UP HIS CROSS MEANS HE MUST NOT SPARE HIMSELF WHEN THE MOMENT COMES, BUT BE READY TO DIE A DISHONOURABLE DEATH FOR THE SAKE OF VIRTUE AND THE TRUTH OF HOLY DOCTRINES.

Where earthly kings require those who follow them to be prepared to die for them, the Lord gave Himself over to death for our sake and COMMANDS US TO BE READY TO DIE NOT FOR HIS SAKE, BUT FOR OURS. To make it clear that it is for our own sake, he adds, "For whosoever will save his soul shall lose it; but WHOEVER SHALL LOSE HIS SOUL FOR MY SAKE AND THE GOSPEL’S, THE SAME SHALL SAVE IT" [Mark 8:35]. What does this mean, that anyone who wants to save it shall lose it, and anyone who loses it shall save it? Man is TWOFOLD, consisting of OUTWARD MAN, the body, and our INWARD MAN, the soul. When our outward man gives himself over to death, he loses his soul, being separated from it. But when someone loses his soul for Christ and the Gospel, HE CLEARLY SAVES AN GAINS IT, BECAUSE HE HAS PROCURED FOR IT ETERNA LIFE IN HEAVEN.

Saint Paul who boasts in the Cross, determined not to know anything, save the Lord Jesus, and Him crucified [cf 1 Corinthians 2:2]. What does he say? The Cross means CRUCIFYING THE FLESH WITH ITS PASSIONS AND DESIRES [cf. Galatians 5:24]. Do you think he is referring only to the passions of sensual pleasure and gluttony? In that case he would not have written to the Corinthians, "Since there is among you strife and divisions are ye not carnal and walk as men?" [1 Corinthians 3:3]. Consequently, anyone WHO LOVES GLORY OR MONEY OR SIMPLY WANTS TO IMPOSE HIS OWN WILL IN HIS EAGERNESS TO PREVAIL, IS CARNAL AND WALKS AS MEN, SINCE SUCH THINGS ARE THE SOURCE OF DIVISIONS.

Listen to the Holy Apostle Peter, the leader of the Christ’s Apostles, who says, "Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that he should follow his steps" [1 Peter 2:21]. Then you should consider the fact that when someone really learns how much he owes the Master, and is unable to repay in full, he modestly offers as much as he can and freely chooses to. As for the remaining DEBT, he HUMBLES HIMSELF BEFORE THE LORD AND, ATTRACTING HIS COMPASSION THROUGH THIS HUMILITY HE MAKES UP FOR THE SHORTFALL. If someone observes his thought reaching out towards riches and wealth, he must realize that this fleshly thought separates him from Christ crucified within him.

How can you begin to take this thought up to the height of the Cross? Having put your hope in Christ Who provides for all creation and nurtures it, keep away from all unjust gains, and do not be too attached even to honest income. Put it to good use and let the poor share in it as much as possible…Do you see the thought of fornication forcefully stirred up within? Be aware that you have not yet crucified yourself. Flee from looking inquisitively at women, from unseemly familiarity with them and inappropriate conversation. Reduce the fuel which feeds this passion by giving up excessive drinking, drunkenness, eating your fill and sleeping too much. To the renunciation of these evils add humble mindedness, and call upon God with a contrite heart for help against this passion.

Saint Paul says, "We preach," "Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block," because they do not believe IN THE SAVING PASSION, "and unto the Greeks foolishness," as they value transitory things above all else because of their complete disbelief in God’s promises, "bur unto them that are called, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of Gods" [1 Corinthians 1:23].

This is the wisdom and power of God: TO BE VICTORIOUS THROUGH WEAKNESS, EXALTED THROUGH HUMILITY, RICH THROUGH POVERTY. Not only the word and the mystery of the Cross are Divine and to be reverenced, but so also IS ITS SIGN. For it is a holy Saving and Venerable Seal, able to hallow and perfect all the good, marvelous and indescribable things which God has done for the human race. It can take away the curse and condemnation, destroy corruption and death, bestow Eternal Life and Blessing. IT IS THE WOOD OF SALVATION, THE REGAL SCEPTRE, THE DIVINE TROPHY OF VICTORY OVER VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE ENEMIES, EVEN THOUGH THE HERETICS’ FOLLOWERS ARE INSANELY DISPLEASED.

Where did Christ despoil and drive completely away the principalities and powers of the evil spirits, which had taken a hold on our nature since the time of the tree of disobedience? Where did He Triumph over them and put them to shame, so that we could be set free? Where was the middle wall of partition broken down and our enmity towards God abolished and put to death? By what means were we RECONCILED WITH GOD AND HOW DID WE HEAR THE GOOD NEWS OF PEACE WITH HIM? Surely, it was ON THE CROSS AND BY MEANS OF THE CROSS. Let those who doubt listen to what the Holy Apostle Paul writes to the Ephesians, "FOR CHRIST IS OUR PEACE, WHO HATH BROKEN DOWN THE MIDDLE WALL OF PARTITION BETWEEN US, FOR TO MAKE IN HIMSELF OF TWAIN ONE NEW MAN, SO MAKING PEACE; AND THAT HE MIGHT RECONCILE BOTH UNTO GOD AND IN OE ONE BODY BY THE CROSS, HAVING SLAIN THE ENMITY THEREBY" [Ephesians 2:14-16].

Let us fear Him Who examines hearts and minds. Let us appease the lord of vengeance. Let us long with the full assurance of faith for that vision promised to the pure of heart, and may we do everything to attain it, for it is accompanied by Eternal Life, UNFADING GOODNESS, INEXHAUSTIBLE RICHES, UNCHANGING AND UNENDING DELIGHT, GLORY AND KINGDOM.

May we all attain to these things in Christ, the King of the Ages, to Whom alone belong all glory, honor, and worship, with His Father without beginning and the All-Holy, Good and Life-Creating Spirit, unto endless ages. Amen. [Resource: The Homilies]

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"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George