The Glory of the Cross of Jesus Christ
FR. COSTA’S WEEKLY MESSAGE, March 22, 2009

“On another occasion, when he is counseling on love, he announces: ‘Love each other as Christ loved us, and has delivered himself for us, an oblation and a sacrifice to God for an odor of sweetness’ (Ephesians 5:2). When he joins wives to husbands in harmony, he says: ‘Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the Church, and delivered himself up for it’ (Ephesians 5:25). Christ himself shows how the cross was his chief concern, and how great was his love of suffering. Hear how he addressed the first of the apostles, the foundation-stone of the Church, the leader of the apostles’ chorus, when Peter said to him in ignorance ‘Heaven preserve you, Lord; this must not happen to you.’ He said to Peter: ‘Get behind me, satan; you are a stumbling-block to me’ (Matthew 16:22-23). By this exaggerated insult and rebuke he showed the great importance which he attached to the cross. He achieved the resurrection in secret, in a remote corner, leaving the proof of it to subsequent generations. But he endured the cross in the middle of the city, during the festival, amidst a crowd of Jews, when both Roman and Jewish tribunals were in session, when the festival was attracting all the crowds, at midday, before a gathering of the whole world. Since only those present witnessed the event, he commanded the sun to be eclipsed, and to announce that deed of daring throughout the world. Yet, as I have been quick to emphasize, the event was a scandal for many. But we must concentrate not on them, but on those who were saved, those who won through.”

[St. John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople]