“The Foolish Cross is the Power of God”

“Every action of God glorifies the Church, but the cross is the glory above all glory. Paul understood that well when he said: ‘I will glory in nothing else but the cross of Christ.’ (cf. Gal. 6:14)

That a blind man should have been able to regain his sight by the pool of Siloam is certainly a marvelous fact. But what does this single episode add up to when you think of the blind all over the world?

The Resurrection of Lazarus who had already been dead four days was a miraculous event, overcoming all the forces of nature. But this favor granted to him alone could not be any comfort to all those who had died through their own sin.

It was a miracle to feed the five thousand with five loaves. But what use could that be for all the ignorant people starved of truth?

The glory of the cross, by contrast, has enlightened all those who were blinded by ignorance. It has set free all those who were slaves of sin. It has redeemed the whole human race.

Let us glory in the cross of the Savior. ‘The word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.’ ”

Cyril of Jerusalem, Catecheses, 13, 1ff. (PG33, 772)

Third Sunday of the Great Fast

Veneration of the Holy Cross