The Transformative Power of the Cross

Today, we gather to celebrate the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, a feast that invites us to pause and truly contemplate the depth of what the cross means. The cross, once a symbol of shame and terror, has become for us the greatest sign of God’s love. It’s easy to become accustomed to seeing crucifixes and forget the scandal and horror it once represented, especially in the early centuries when Christians themselves could end up crucified. Yet, through the cross, God has revealed the fullness of His love and the mystery of how He brings good out of evil.

The presence of evil and suffering in the world is often cited as the greatest challenge to faith in a loving God. Saints like Augustine and Thomas Aquinas wrestled with this, teaching that God sometimes permits evil so that a greater good may come from it. Nowhere is this more evident than in the crucifixion itself: the greatest evil—humanity crucifying the Son of God—became the source of the greatest good, our salvation. Christ’s resurrection transforms the meaning of suffering and death, showing that God’s love is victorious even in the darkest moments.

The cross also reveals the defeat of the enemy. The devil believed he had triumphed by bringing about Christ’s death, but in reality, Christ entered into death and destroyed its power from within. Just as humanity was deceived by the fruit of a tree in Eden, so too is the enemy defeated by the tree of the cross, which becomes for us the tree of life.

When we face evil or suffering in our own lives, we are invited to trust that God is at work, even when we cannot see how. We may not understand why God allows certain things, but we can be certain of His love and His power to transform all things for good. Our response is to love God and neighbor, to bring our burdens and joys to Him, especially in the Mass. At the offertory, we are called to place all that we carry—our struggles, our gifts, our very hearts—on the altar with Christ. In the Eucharist, Jesus transforms what we offer and gives it back to us, changed and renewed, so that we can become more like Him and bring His presence into the world.

Key Takeaways

• 1. The cross, once a symbol of horror, is now the greatest sign of God’s love. It challenges us to look beyond familiarity and recognize the depth of sacrifice and mercy it represents. The transformation of the cross’s meaning is itself a testimony to God’s power to redeem and sanctify even the darkest realities. [00:45]
• 2. The existence of evil is not a sign of God’s absence, but a mystery in which God permits some suffering to bring about a greater good. The crucifixion is the ultimate example: the greatest evil led to the greatest good, our salvation. This invites us to trust that God is always working, even in what seems hopeless. [03:30]
• 3. The enemy’s apparent victory at the cross was actually his defeat. Christ entered into death and destroyed its power, turning the very instrument of defeat into the means of victory. The cross becomes the new tree of life, reversing the curse of Eden and opening the way to eternal life. [07:10]
• 4. In our own struggles, we are called to humility and trust, recognizing that we cannot see all that God is doing. Rather than blaming God for suffering, we are invited to love Him and our neighbor, confident that He is working all things for good, as promised in Romans 8:28. Our task is to remain faithful and open to His transforming grace. [11:00]
• 5. The Mass is the privileged place where we unite our burdens and gifts with Christ’s sacrifice. By placing our hearts on the altar, we allow Jesus to transform us through the Eucharist. What we offer in faith, He returns to us renewed, empowering us to become more like Him and to carry His love into the world. [14:20]
  ** [14:20]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:45] - The Cross: From Shame to Glory
• [02:10] - The Challenge of Evil and Suffering
• [03:30] - God’s Greater Good in the Face of Evil
• [05:00] - The Crucifixion: The Greatest Evil and Good
• [07:10] - The Enemy’s Defeat at the Cross
• [08:30] - The Tree of Life: Reversing the Curse
• [09:45] - Facing Evil in Our Own Lives
• [11:00] - Trusting God’s Mysterious Work
• [12:30] - Romans 8:28 and Our Response
• [13:40] - The Call to Love God and Neighbor
• [14:20] - The Offertory: Placing Our Hearts on the Altar
• [16:00] - Transformation in the Eucharist
• [17:30] - Becoming More Like Christ
• [18:30] - Bringing Christ to the World

Bible Reading

Romans 8:28 (ESV) — > And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

2. John 3:14-17 (ESV)
> And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

3. Genesis 3:1-7, 22-24 (ESV)
> (Selected verses about the fall and the tree in Eden, referenced in the sermon as the origin of the curse and the tree of life.)

Observation Questions

1. According to the sermon, how did the meaning of the cross change from the early centuries of Christianity to now? [00:45]
2. What is the “greatest evil” described in the sermon, and what “greatest good” did God bring out of it? [03:30]
3. How does the sermon describe the defeat of the enemy (the devil) at the cross? [07:10]
4. What does Romans 8:28 promise to those who love God, and how does the sermon connect this to our experience of suffering? [11:00]

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says the cross was once a symbol of shame and terror, but now it’s the greatest sign of God’s love. Why is it important for Christians not to become too familiar or “used to” the cross? What might we miss if we do? [00:45]
2. The preacher mentions that God sometimes permits evil so that a greater good may come from it. How does this idea help or challenge your understanding of God’s love and power? [03:30]
3. The sermon draws a parallel between the tree in Eden and the tree of the cross. What is the significance of this comparison, and how does it help us understand what Jesus accomplished? [07:10]
4. According to the sermon, what is our role when we face suffering or evil, and how does the Mass help us respond? [14:20]

Application Questions

1. The cross is now a sign of God’s love, but it’s easy to take it for granted. When you see a crucifix or cross, do you pause to remember what it really means? What could you do this week to make the cross more meaningful in your daily life? [00:45]
2. Think of a time when you faced something difficult or painful. Looking back, can you see any way that God brought good out of that situation? If not, how can you trust that God is still at work, even when you don’t understand? [03:30]
3. The sermon says the enemy wants us to get stuck blaming God for evil. Are there areas in your life where you find yourself blaming God or feeling stuck? What would it look like to bring those feelings honestly to God in prayer? [11:00]
4. Romans 8:28 says God works all things for good for those who love Him. What does loving God look like for you right now, especially in the middle of struggles? Is there a specific way you can show love for God or your neighbor this week? [12:30]
5. The preacher invites us to place our burdens and joys on the altar at Mass. What is one burden or gift you are carrying right now that you could consciously offer to God at the next Mass? How might you prepare your heart to do this? [14:20]
6. The sermon says Jesus transforms what we offer Him and gives it back renewed. Is there something in your life you need Jesus to transform? What would it look like to surrender that to Him, and how could you recognize His work in your life afterward? [16:00]
7. After receiving Jesus in the Eucharist, we are called to bring His presence into the world. What is one practical way you can bring Christ’s love to someone in your life this week? [18:30]