THE CROSS IN A DIVIDED, ANGRY AND VIOLENT WORLD

Fr Luke A Veronis

Our country has been shaken once again this past week. The assassination of Charlie Kirk. Another school shooting on the very same day. Violence that fills us with shock, anger, fear and even numbness.

“I cried all day when I heard that Charlie Kirk was killed,” one parishioner lamented to me. Another depressing stated, “It’s so disturbing how a death causes more division instead of unity. It’s getting scary how much hate exists between the different political sides in our country.”

Do you feel it?

That weight?

That heaviness in our society?

We live in a time when political violence is rising on all sides. People are angry and afraid. Tragedies no longer shock us but fill us with fury because they happen so often. When the death of people —whether a political figure or children in a school—do not lead to mourning and unity, but instead sparks more arguments, more hatred, more division, something is wrong!

In the middle of this, however, I look around our Saints Constantine and Helen Church Family here in Webster and see something different.

Here in our church, we are not all the same. We don’t all vote the same. We don’t all watch the same news. We surely don’t all hold the same political opinions. We have passionate conservatives sitting next to committed progressives! And somehow—somehow—we remain one community, one family. And we actually love one another!

How is that possible?

It’s not because we’re all naturally patient or kind. It’s not because we’ve found the perfect political balance. It’s not because we always agree. No! It’s because in this community of faith, we try to focus on the Good News of Jesus Christ and not on our politics.

This week on social media, a dear friend, Fr. Nicholas Halkias wrote a provocative and powerful reflection:

“The soul of America is dying. Not because Charlie Kirk or students in Denver or a Ukrainian refugee or innocent victims in Gaza were killed, but because there are people who are happy that these deaths took place.”

Think about that. The real tragedy, the real death is that human hearts are celebrating when others die. We’ve turned our enemies into monsters instead of seeing them as human beings.

There is no defense for what is going on in our country right now, and if anyone is going to point the finger to someone else besides themselves, then we’re not even looking at the problem. The only thing that will begin our country’s recovery are four words:

“I am to blame.”

Not the news.

Not the government.

Not the other side.

"I am to blame."

It is so easy to say, “The problem is them… if only that party, that politician, that group would change.” But the Gospel does not allow us to point fingers. The Gospel calls us to repent, starting with ourselves.

I am to blame because I don’t speak enough love.

I am to blame because I don’t maintain peace in the midst of turmoil

I am to blame because I don’t listen when I should.

I am to blame because I don’t comfort those who are suffering.

There are people happy that a person like Charlie Kirk is dead. I am to blame.

There are people condemning all democrats and liberals. I am to blame.

There are people living in fear. I am to blame.

There are those who feel their political side is completely right and the other side is completely wrong. I am to blame.

This ends with me. Nobody else. I am to blame.”

Those words sting, don’t they? You may not want to hear them. You may disagree and not want to admit “I am to blame.” Yet, this is what our Orthodox faith teaches us. This is divine truth. We are our neighbor’s keeper. Our love for neighbor leads us to identify with our neighbor.

“I am to blame.”

Such a message reflects what we celebrate today on the Sunday of the Elevation of the Holy Cross.

The Cross is not about revenge, hatred, or division.

The Cross is love in the face of hatred.

The Cross is forgiveness in the face of violence.

The Cross is reconciliation in the face of division.

The Cross is compassion and grace in the midst of rigid legalism.

From the Cross, our Lord cried out: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” God expects us to embrace this spirit of mercy and grace toward our enemies.

Every time we make the sign of the Cross, or whenever we feel the cross around our necks, we need to remember to forgive, to love, to reconcile, to act as peacemakers. Every time we kiss the Cross, we are kissing the way of mercy, the way of compassion, the way of sacrificial love.

But how does this look in practice?

When someone posts something on social media that makes your blood boil—we don’t respond with anger, sarcasm, mockery but choose patience, understanding, and restraint.

When a conversation at work or with family turns heated over a difference of opinions, we don’t raise our voice and add to the chaos but we choose to listen respectfully and try to understand.

When our society tells us, “Your political opponent, all democrats or all republicans, are your enemy” we choose to see the other as a fellow human being, a child of God created in His image whom we are called to love.

Our faith does not allow us to demonize others. Our faith does not allow us to rejoice in the suffering of others. Our faith does not allow us to give up in fear or become numb and say, “This is just how things are.”

We are Orthodox Christians. We follow the crucified and resurrected Lord Jesus. Saint Paul tells us that “the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing.” God expects us to be different from the world. He expects us to act as a light in the darkness. He invites us to serve as His ambassadors of love and mercy and grace to society.

And the good news is—we already have a beautiful witness to offer here in our Church Family in Webster. We surely do not agree on everything. Far from it. But here, week after week, we stand side by side as brothers and sisters. We offer the same prayers. We sing the same hymns. We embrace one another and give the kiss of peace at each Divine Liturgy. We approach the same chalice “with the fear of God, with faith and love.” Yes, we hold extremely different political views, yet we choose to remain a loving Family!

That, my friends, is a miracle in today’s America.

The world outside is fractured, divided, angry, fearful. In this church, however, we show another way. In here, we live out the reality that Christ has broken down the wall of division between us. Do not underestimate how powerful such a witness can be to the world.

When people see that our Church Family embraces conservatives and progressives, immigrants and lifelong citizens, people who loved Charlie Kirk along with people who rejected his message—when they see that, they see the Kingdom of God breaking into the world.

Yet, here is our challenge. We cannot let this spirit stop at the church doors. How we respond in times like this shows who we are. What we post on social media shows who we are. How we speak to our neighbors and coworkers reflects our true spirit.

Will we ignite the fires of division or will we put out the flames of hatred?

What will you choose? The way of anger, the suspicion, and hatred or the way of the Cross – following a path of forgiveness, mercy, compassion, reconciliation?

Yes, the world is angry. The world is afraid. The world is divided. But the Cross stands before us today as the antidote.

The Cross shows us that love is stronger than hate; forgiveness is stronger than vengeance; reconciliation is stronger than division; life is stronger than death.

So, brothers and sisters, let us take up the Cross by saying “I am to blame.” And each time we want to blame and attack the other, let us each decide: “This ends with me. Nobody else. I am to blame.” And then let us live differently.

And when the world looks at us, may they see not another community of anger and division, but a family united by the Cross, a family of love, a family that shows the world another way is possible when Christ is at the center.