A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai to some Toronto priests in St. Lawrence, martyr parish on Sept 14, 2021, feast of the Exalatation of the Holy Cross.

Today we read those stunning words from the hymn of the morning prayer:

He endured the nails, the spitting, Vinegar, and spear, and reed;

From that holy Body broken, Blood and water, both proceed:

Earth, and stars, and sky, and ocean By that flood from stain are freed.

And in one of the passages in Andrew of Crete where he quotes about the power of the cross.

And if you would understand that the cross is Christ’s triumph, hear what he himself also said: When I am lifted up, then I will draw all men to myself. Now you can see that the cross is Christ’s glory and triumph.

Think of the tremendous scene in the Gospel of the barren fig tree. (Mark 11:12-25)

Thumbnail: 12th Century ivory crucifix of Canosa di Puglia, Italy Byzantine origin.