The Cross You Never Asked For
from Sparks Among the Stubble Hosted by St. Innocent Orthodox Church
Send us Fan Mail In this homily for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, we reflect on the mystery of the Cross and what it means for the suffering we encounter in our own lives. Christ did not simply become the helpless victim of suffering. He willingly journeyed toward the Cross out of love for us, accepting suffering and death so that humanity might be reconciled to God and brought toward the Resurrection. As followers of Christ, we also encounter crosses that we did not choose: illness, loss, disappointment, difficult relationships, uncertainty, and the many consequences of living in a fallen world. There is nothing inherently good about suffering itself, but through faith, even involuntary suffering can become something spiritually transformative. The Christian response is not to pretend that suffering feels good or that we wanted it. We can honestly say, “Lord, I do not want this,” while still asking Christ to teach us through it, strengthen us within it, and transform what we did not choose into something that draws us closer to Him. The Cross is never the end of the Christian story. On the other side of the Cross is the Resurrection. Our spiritual lives are filled with these small deaths and small resurrections as we gradually learn to surrender our own will, trust God, and become more like Christ. May the Lord give us the grace to bear the crosses we did not choose with faith, strength, and the help of the Holy Spirit. “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” — Matthew 16:24 Christ is in our midst! #OrthodoxChristianity #OrthodoxChurch #Orthodoxy #OCA #HolyCross #ExaltationOfTheCross #PreciousCross #CrossOfChrist #JesusChrist #TakeUpYourCross #Suffering #ChristianSuffering #Faith #Hope #Resurrection #Repentance #ChristianLife #OrthodoxHomily #OrthodoxSermon #SpiritualLife #Discipleship #HolySpirit #Salvation #Theosis #StInnocentOrthodoxChurch #MaconGA Website @ https://www.st-innocent.org Instagram @ https://www.instagram.com/st.innocentchurch/ Facebook @ https://fb.me/SaintInnocentMaconGeorgia Help Support St. Innocent Orthodox Church @ https://onrealm.org/siocmacon/-/form/give/now
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Send us Fan Mail In this homily for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, we reflect on the mystery of the Cross and what it means for the suffering we encounter in our own lives. Christ did not simply become the helpless victim of suffering. He willingly journeyed toward the Cross out of love for us, accepting suffering and death so that humanity might be reconciled to God and brought toward the Resurrection. As followers of Christ, we also encounter crosses that we did not choose...
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