Homily on the 10th Sunday after Pentecost.
When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.” Mt 17:14-16
On Thursday evening the Church universal (Katholic) celebrated a most glorious feast – The Procession of the Life-Giving Cross.
In the year 117-138 the emperor Hadrian ordered that the site where our Lord commended His Spirit unto God the Father (Golgotha/place of the skull) be covered by ground (Soil). Thus, he then ordered the erecting of a pagan temple dedicated to the goddess Venus – alongside a statue of Jupitar.
However, by divine intervention 300 years later after the Emperor Constantine the Great came to power, his mother the Emperess Hellen went to Jerusalem in search of the true cross of Christ.
After quite some time the empress was unsuccessful in finding the true cross of our Saviour, so the Christians and Jews of the region directed her to an elderly Hebrew man called Jude. Thus, he instructed her that if she where to go to the pagan temple of Venus it was there that she would find the true cross buried under it.
Therefore, once the empress ordered the destruction of the temple, they found the tomb where our Lord was buried; not too far away they found 3 crosses, four nails which pierced through Jesus including inscription on which hung above His (Jesus’) head.
Thus, in order to properly identify which of the three crosses was Jesus’ one, the then patriarch Macarius placed a corpse upon the first cross resulting in nothing. He did the same with the second with the same results. However, when he came to the third cross the corpse was raised to life, thus resulting in the finding of the precious and Life-Giving Cross!
It’s interesting to note that in the month of August Constantinople was riddled with all sorts of bodily infirmities due to its climate; thus, resulting in disease and sickness. However, when the Ture Cross was processed arounds the streets of Constantinople by its power, (The Cross) all diseases and illness where eradicated - hence why the feast day is in the month of August.
“You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment. Mt 17:17-18
This coming Wednesday the Church will celebrate the Transfiguration of Christ. Thus, through the Life-Giving Cross we are transformed. Hence, by the faith in which we profess, we are healed by the very nails in which pierced the Holy hands and feet of our Saviour!
Furthermore, the pain Jesus endured from being beaten, to being scourged, to His crucifixion He did it in order that we may be delivered from not only the clutches of death, but bodily infirmities which caused pain, sorrow and segregation! (Covid19)
I would like to recount a miracle in which occurred last year. One day I received a phone call from my mum saying that my 4-year-old brother was experiencing night terrors which was preventing him from getting a good night sleep and feeling comfortable in his bedroom. So, my mum asked me if I could go to her house and offer prayers for my brothers' nightmares to stop.
A few months prior to receiving this phone-call, the Archbishop and Vicar General came to my home chapel because the Exarchate had received a small piece of the True Cross. Thus, we offered the Divine Liturgy in thanksgiving and had a small feast to celebrate the occasion. My family and I were blessed because we were given the honor to have the Holy Cross with us for a few months to venerate.
Thus, remembering that I had the True Cross in my home chapel, I entered the chapel and lifting it up with two hands and forming the sign of the cross with it - I offering prayers for my brother to be spared from these terrors. The following day I went to see my brother. My mum asked me if I had prayed for him the night before because according to her my little brother had a peaceful sleep throughout the whole night; not waking up once scared and petrified as previously experienced due to the bad dreams.
I then explained that I was blessed to have the Cross of our Saviour and used it as an instrument to pray for my brother at which she was amazed. I then anointed his forehead with the oil of gladness and gifted him and icon of Jesus which according to my mum he wants to take with him everywhere he goes.
Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Mt 17:19-20
Covid 19 has brought about complications in the livelihood of fellow Australians. Yet we are told that in faith the divine providence of God will never let us go without! Therefore, there are various menas (government assistance/family or friends support) we are never abandoned come what may for we are His inheritance the people purchased via the shedding of His glorious blood on the wood of the cross!
Through the prayers of the Holy Theotokos, Lord Jesus Christ our God have mercy on us and save us!
Troparion to the Life-Giving-Cross
O Lord save us Your people, and bless us thine inheritance. Grant victory to this Exarchate over our enemies and protect Thy people by Thy preciouses and Life-Giving-Cross!
Troparion for the Transfiguration
You were transfigured on the mountain, O Christ God, revealing Your glory to Your disciples as far as they could bear it. Let Your everlasting Light also shine upon us sinners, through the prayers of the Theotokos. O Giver of Light, glory to You!
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