Ukrainian Catholic ChurchAustralia, New Zealand and Oceania
Homily by Deacon Vitalii Leheta on the Third Sunday of the Great Lent: the Veneration of the Holy Cross
March 8, 2026
God knows our strengths. And the cross we have is the one we can carry with God’s help. The world often tells us about strength, power, and success. But God shows us another kind of strength—the strength of sacrificial love.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today we have gathered in the church in the middle of Great Lent, and the Church presents us with the Holy Cross so that we may worship it. This is not in vain. The path of fasting is spiritual, which can sometimes be difficult. A person can get tired from fasting, from struggling with their weaknesses, and from daily worries. That is why today the Church seems to be saying to us, ‘Look at the cross and remember why we are walking this path.’
One man constantly complained to God about his cross. It seemed to him that his life was the hardest. Once he dreamed that he came to a large room where there were many different crosses. Some were large, some were small, and some were very heavy. And a voice said to him, “Choose the cross you want to carry.” The man walked around for a long time, looking. One cross was too big, another was too heavy, and another was too rough. Finally, he found one cross that seemed most comfortable to him and said, “I want this one.” And then he heard a voice say, “This is the cross you have been carrying all your life.”
This story reminds us that God knows our strengths. And the cross we have is the one we can carry with God’s help. The world often tells us about strength, power, and success. But God shows us another kind of strength—the strength of sacrificial love. Christ could have come down from the cross. He could have avoided suffering. But He remained on the cross because He loved people. And so, anyone who doubts God’s love should look at the cross. The answer is there. It is very important to remember one truth: the cross is never the end. After Calvary came the Resurrection. When a person looks only at suffering, they can lose hope. But when they look at the cross of Christ, they remember that after darkness comes light.
Dear brothers and sisters, today, as we worship the Holy Cross, let us ask God for three things: faith to trust God even in difficulties; strength to carry our cross in life; and hope to remember the joy of the Resurrection. And let us not forget to ask God to end the Russian war in Ukraine, for peace and security for our Ukrainian people. Amen.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
