Commentary on the Gospel of the day from St. John Chrysostom (c. 345-407), priest of Antioch, Bishop of Constantinople, Doctor of the Church. Homily on the Cross and the Thief, 1, PG 49,399-401

Comentário ao Evangelho do dia feito por João Crisóstomo (c. 345-407), presbítero de Antioquia, bispo de Constantinopla, doutor da Igreja. Homilia sobre a Cruz e o Ladrão, 1; PG 49, 399-401

“So also it is necessary that the Son of Man may be raised on high, so that all that was created in Him may have eternal life.”

Today, Our Lord Jesus Christ is on the cross and we celebrate, because we know that the cross is a feast and a spiritual celebration. Once the cross meant a punishment, now it becomes an object of honor. Once the symbol of condemnation, Now, it is a principle of salvation. for it is for us the cause of many goods. Freeing us from error, iluminating us in darkness and reconciling us with God, we may have become to Him enemies and strangers, and it gives us His friendship and draws us to Him. The cross is for us the destruction of enmity, the guarantee of peace the treasure of 1000 goods.

Thanks to it, we don’t not error through the desert, for we know the truth way. We don’t remains outside of the royal palace, for we find the door. We do not fear the arms of the devil, for we discover the fountain. Thanks to it, we are not widows, for we discover the Spouse. we do not fear the wolf, for we have the good shepherd. Thanks to the cross we do not fear, the usurper, for we sit at the side of the King.

This is because we are content upon celebrating the memory of the cross. St. Paul himself invites us to the feast in honor of the cross: “Let us celebrate, for the feast is not with old leaven nor with the leaven of evil and corruption, but with the unleavened bread of purity and of truth. ” (cf 1Cor 5:8) and the reason for this “Christ, our pascal lamb was sacrificed.”(V7)

Monsignor Jonas Abib

translated from Portuguese