Evensong at St Paul’s Cathedral, The Eve of Holy Cross Day by Fr Jack

The Prophecy of Isaiah 52.13-end
St Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians 2.11-end

‘Say unto God, O how wonderful art thou in thy works…’ As the choir sang in this evening’s psalm.

And indeed, God’s wonderful works are right in front of us, shining. It’s on top of this cathedral, its behind me in this pulpit, its at the high altar, in the mosaics and stone work all around us. It is the wonder and beauty of the Cross of Christ, on this the eve of Holy Cross Day tomorrow.

Wonder?! Beauty?! Glorious?!

Surely not. The cross is a despicable and awful thing. The humiliating and excruciating death reserved for the very worst and most despised.

Perhaps it is covered in the stale blood of those who had died on it before. Covered in sweat, blood, and the other the things that human beings shed when pain and torture make us lose control of our bowls and bladder. The cross is hideous.

And yet, we decorate them with gold, and put them in our churches and on our walls, on school blazers, and college and City crests, on hospital signs and a million other places. By rights, given how terrible the cross is, it should be censored, rated 18 plus like films and music that aren’t appropriate for youngsters to see. And here I am preaching about it to you all, at the evensong when wonderful young people are admitted as choristers. It is deeply inappropriate! Or is it?

We know suffering. At times Christians like me have got rather too excited about the suffering, of course. But suffering is real. Isaiah today in the first lesson, seven centuries before Christ speaks of God’s chosen one who would come and suffer. A victim, yes; but one who’s victimhood would transform suffering. Who would carry our sins and wounds and violence in his own body, and thereby free us from slavery to violence and sin and death. One who would suffer, and make suffering a victory that would shut the mouths of kings (as we heard). Now we’re starting to see what Holy Cross Day tomorrow might be saying to us?

Likewise, our own dear St Paul in the second lesson wants us to realise that the Cross’s inhumanity, hostility and division, is the very means by which God has brought about the most extraordinary mercy, love and reconciliation.

Because quite simply, ‘by His wounds we are healed’. By His death, we are invited to become truly alive.

Because this is what God does on the cross. And this is what we share in every time we come to the Holy Eucharist, to Mass, Holy Communion, and share in His broken Body and Blood poured out. You new choristers, and all the musicians here, and the clergy and all of you in the places where God has set you in life. Every day you get up and do it again - ministry and worship, forgiveness, service, love - all these things are the Cross of Christ in your life. Choristers, and all of you, when the alarm clock goes again and you get up and do it again day after day: that is the Cross of Christ, bringing God’s life to the world. Thank you and God bless you in whatever that means for you.

This Holy Cross of God’s love also means that (not just us, but) every person suffering in the world today is not alone, because Jesus has suffered with them and for them. Every person who is downtrodden, thrown on the rubbish dump of life, fearful or alone is not alone, because Jesus the crucified is with them.

And its even more than this, because, God, by undergoing this humiliation and suffering and death - the very depths of human experience - has broken the economy of such things. We still hurt and kill, but now, because of Jesus, death and darkness will never have the final word.

So, as in the next few minutes you gather your thoughts and prayers from this service today, draw near to the Cross of Christ in your heart and mind, in what you look at in this Cathedral, in the words and music we are yet to hear. Carry with you the places and people and ministries in which your cross is set. And carry with you, too, all those you do and don’t know who are suffering with the crucified Christ in the world today, and hold them with Jesus, and be there with Him yourself. And see what Jesus on the Cross has to say to you this evening. Because it is hate and inhumanity that put Jesus there on the Cross, but what keeps Him there is love, boundless love for you and for all that God has made. And His love has overcome death and hell itself. Hallelujah!