Vigils Reading – Exaltation of Holy Cross

The Triumph of the Cross: a reading from a treatise by St.  John Chrysostom.¹

Isaiah made it clear that Christ will raise up all men when he said: “The dead shall be raised up again, even those in the tombs shall be raised up.  For the dew from you is healing for them.”  That was not all.  After his cross, after his slaughter, his glory will shine forth more brightly; after his resurrection, he will advance the message of his Gospel still more.

He was bound, betrayed by an apostle, spat upon, outraged with insults, scourged, nailed to the cross, and, as far as [some] were concerned, he did not deserve to be buried in a tomb.  His executioners divided his garments.  They suspected that he aspired to be a king, and he died for it.  “For everyone who makes himself king, sets himself against Caesar.”  They suspected him of blasphemy, and he died for it.  “Behold, you have heard his blasphemy.”

Even though he would undergo all these torments, he roused up those who would listen, he stirred them to courage by saying: “Do not be afraid because of these things which they did to me.  I was crucified, I was scourged, I was outraged and insulted by robbers, I was arrested on suspicion of blasphemy and of being a king.  But after my death and resurrection, people will look on my sufferings in such a way that no one will say that they were not filled with abundant value and honor.”

Certainly, this did come to pass.  And a prophet predicted it long beforehand when he said: “There shall be the root of Jesse, even he who rises up to rule nations.  In him nations will put their trust, and his resting place shall be glorious.”  This kind of death is more glorious than a crown.  Certainly, kings have laid aside their crowns and taken up the cross, the symbol of his death.  On their purple robes is the cross, on their crowns is the cross, at their public prayers is the cross, on their weapons is the cross, on the sacred table of their altar is the cross.  Everywhere in the world, the cross shines forth more brightly than the sun. As it says in the Scriptures: “And his resting place shall be glorious.”

In human affairs things do not generally happen that way.  Men of distinction flourish while they are alive; after they die, their exploits are reduced to nothing.  Anyone could see how true this is not only in the case of the wealthy and rulers but even in the case of the emperor himself.  Their laws are abrogated, their images are obscured, people’s memory of them is blotted out, their name is forgotten, those who enjoyed their favor are held in scorn.  This is the lot even of those emperors who waged wars, of those who, by their nod, changed the conditions of peoples, cities, and affairs, of those who had the power to put men to death, of those who could give a reprieve to men on their way to execution.  But all their great powers have perished despite the great honors shown to them while they were alive.

With Christ it is quite the opposite.  Before the cross, his situation was one of shame and dejection.  Judas betrayed him, Peter denied him, the others fled.  He stood alone and was led off in the midst of his foes; many who had believed in him now deserted him.  But after he had died on the cross, his situation was not destroyed but became brighter, more glorious, and more sublime.  From this you may understand that the crucified one was no mere man.

¹ Demonstration Against the Pagans That Christ is God. Trans. Paul W. Harkins, Fathers of the Church Series, vol. 73. Washington, D.C.: Catholic University of America Press, 1985. pp.221ff.