SUNDAY OF THE VENERATION OF THE HOLY CROSS – Metropolitan of Strumica, Nahum
Posted By Macedon on April 8, 2024
Refer: Mark 8:34 – 9:1
“Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.” (Mark 8:34).
The Cross of Christ is our voluntary and involuntary sufferings, which we endure with humility and gratitude for the communion with the God-Man Christ. Only these sufferings, not – any others.
When He tells us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him, the Lord Jesus Christ calls us voluntarily to go through the three stages of our spiritual development:
– Purification of the heart from the passions,
– Enlightenment of the mind, and
– Deification of the person.