We begin with an admonition from the Apostle Paul, in the selection read on the 17th Sunday after Pentecost: “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” This is the what, but most of a pastor’s life is spent explaining the how, which the readings for the Sunday after the Exaltation of the Precious cross do very well. The Epistle ends with the stirring words ” I am crucified with Christ: neverthless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me…”, and the Gospel tells us that “Whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it “. These describe an attitude, a way of living. Without this attitude, we will not be able to make our way and be “perfecting holiness”. One way to explain this attitude is to elucidate the uniquely ascetic and Orthodox understanding of the “remembrance of death”; this is CRITICAL stuff! We must understand this way of life, the ONLY way of life, which starts with baptism and the cross, and must continue in the way of the cross.
Category: Exaltation of the Cross
What does this mean – God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, and we have this treasure in earthen vessels?. Exaltation of the Cross.
On this Sunday before the Exaltation of the Cross, two of the epistle readings (2 Corinthians 4:6-15 and Galatians 6:11-18) relate directly to the cross. St Paul states emphatically: “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” What does it mean to “glory” in the cross? People glory in many things – wealth, attractiveness, popularity, political correctness, having a good marriage, job, etc. None of these things is glorying in the cross. We answer this important question, and also why we who are “new creatures” because of the cross “have this treasure in earthen vessels”.
Sunday Before the Exaltation of the Cross We are saved from the poison of our passions and sin through the Cross. Exegesis of John 3:13-17. Text and Audio.
An explanation AND APPLICATION of the Gospel on the Sunday before the Exaltation of the Cross, John 3:13-17, which has the famous verse: John 3:16. The more important part of the passage describes the standard with the serpent on it which Moses lifted up in the wilderness. The cross and the resurrection must be thought of in the same "breath;", and how we must live because of the cross. Excerpt … Our poison is sin. Our poison is passions. We are saved from our passions and sin through the Cross. Why? Because the Son of Man has the authority to lay down His life and to take it up again. And He would shortly lay down His life and take it up again. He has the authority to change our nature such that we no longer would be held by death. That is what happened after His death on the Cross. He descended into Hades of His Own will and filled Hades with His divinity and broke the gates of Hades. We sing about this in Pascha, and actually we sing about it every Saturday evening . And in breaking those bars, breaking the bonds that hold humanity when they die, He made us capable of ascending. …
Two Identical Definitions of Christianity. What is the way of the Cross? Important questions we must answer. Audio Homily 2010
The Epistle and Gospel for the Sunday after the Exaltation of the Cross both contain identical ‘definitions’ of Christianity. They both involve the cross, which is an instrument of death and of life. All Christians must voluntaily be crucified with Christ, and tak up their cross. This is explained by our Lord’s instruction that we must ‘lose’ our life to save it, and His uestions: For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? We must understand this if we are to truly live the Christian life and know Christ.
Sunday before the Exaltation of the Holy Cross – John 3:13-17. Audio Homily 2010
Synopsis:A line by line exegesis of the important passage John 3:13-17, with particular emphasis on how the cross and the resurrection must be thought of in the same “breath”, and how we must live because of the cross.
Homily on the Exaltation of the Holy Cross We preach Christ crucified What is the way of the cross? 1 Corinthians 1:18-24. Text Homily.
SYNOPSIS:Main points of this homily, which may express my deepest Christian feelings more than any other homily I have ever spoken: What is the preaching of the Cross? The preaching of the Cross is preaching about the way of the Cross. ** Our Lord spoke about the way of the Cross. It’s rather mysterious, really. And the reason it’s mysterious is because of our sins, because the way of the Cross is the way of life; and yet, in order to gain it, we must die. The way of the Cross is the way of joy — or to joy. But in order to gain it, we must undergo tribulation and be sad. ** This is the way of the Cross: To know that you are missing something that is so critically important to your soul; to know that you’re missing wisdom and compassion and gentleness and humility and wholeness. And that the only way to gain this is to follow Christ and to cleave to Him, to hold onto Him, no matter what. ** If your heart doesn’t ache for what you should be and what others should be, then you’re not following the way of the Cross.
Sunday after the Exaltation 2009. Audio Homily.
LISTEN NOW If the "LISTEN NOW" link does not work, copy this URL into your browser: http://www.orthodox.net/sermons/feasts-of-the-savior-exaltation-of-the-cross-03_2009-10-04+sunday-after-the-exaltation.m3u If this file does not work for you, try the direct link to the actual mp3 file:http://www.orthodox.net/sermons/feasts-of-the-savior-exaltation-of-the-cross-03_2009-10-04+sunday-after-the-exaltation.mp3 RSS feed of Sunday and some weekday homilies:http://feeds.feedburner.com/OrthodoxChristianSermonsOnTheGospelsEpistlesAndOtherTopics Archive of Audio and text homilies:http://www.orthodox.net/sermons
Exaltation of the Holy Cross. We preach Christ crucified. Audio Homily 2009.
LISTEN NOW 1 Corinthians 1:18-24 18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20 Where… Continue reading Exaltation of the Holy Cross. We preach Christ crucified. Audio Homily 2009.
The Cross Is the Sign of Christianity A Christian Cannot Be Without His Cross: On the Inevitability of Suffering
by New Hieromartyr John, Archbishop of Riga and Latvia Who, For His Unyielding Witness to the Truth Suffered Many Persecutions And Was Burned Alive By Communist Assassins In the Night of October 12, 1934. "21From that time, Jesus began to show to His disciples that it is necessary for Him to go away to… Continue reading The Cross Is the Sign of Christianity A Christian Cannot Be Without His Cross: On the Inevitability of Suffering