In this homily for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross (September 14, 2025), Father addresses how Christians should respond to evil and tragedy in our world. He examines the historical reality behind this feast, which has been celebrated continuously since 335 AD.
The homily traces the story from Christ's crucifixion—where he appeared to be a complete failure—to the eventual conversion of the Roman Empire. Key historical points include Jesus facing Pontius Pilate with no worldly power, Saint Peter's crucifixion in Nero's circus beneath an Egyptian obelisk, and Saint Helena's discovery of the True Cross in 326 AD.
That same Egyptian obelisk, once a symbol of Roman conquest, now stands in Saint Peter's Square topped with a cross containing a relic of the True Cross. The inscription reads "Christus Vincit" (Christ Conquers).
The main message: the cross represents the victory of love over hate, truth over power, and mercy over vengeance. Rather than responding to evil through worldly means, Christians are called to follow the way of the cross—the same path that converted the Roman Empire without armies or political influence.
The fact that this feast is still celebrated 1,690 years later demonstrates the ongoing power and relevance of the cross in today's world.