Saint Sofian: "This is what God wants to do with those He loves"

Homily on the Sunday after the Elevation of the Holy Cross

This holy sign which became the instrument of our salvation is composed of two arms—one long and one short—that lie crosswise, forming a cross, as you know. If we ourselves, us humans, stand up straight and raise our arms, we form a cross. Not only do we wear it, but we ourselves have the form of the Holy Cross. Thus, when we bow to the Holy Cross we often remember to make the Holy Cross correctly, that is, two actions: vertically “in the name of the Father and the Son” Who became incarnate; “and the Holy Spirit” Who is the power and action of divinity in the world, on the horizontal plane of our earthly globe.

In the same way, our life is a cross, in which the long arm represents our road in the world, with our plans and thoughts that accompany us throughout our life. The short arm that completes the cross is the finger of God that draws a line across our path and overturns our human plans, in this way forming the cross of sufferings which each mortal is indebted to carry throughout his life. Whether one wants to or not, such a cross is inevitable for each of us.

Suffering, the difficulties so many people fear—and when they are struck by them, they cry and try different kinds of maneuvers to escape—are specifically placed in our life by God to humanize us, form us, make us better, more honest, long-suffering and, possibly, understanding of others’ suffering. He who does not suffer does not understand others. “He who has not tasted bitterness does not know what sweetness is,” as people say. Suffering functions as a chisel in the hands of a skilled sculptor to form a portrait or an object of great value from marble or stone. This is what God wants to do with those He loves; because usually suffering is arranged for those who love God, and many times—we will talk more about this—people are scandalized when they lead a righteous life and suffer. Suffering is thus a medicine or an operation for a dying body whose limbs must be amputated to save its life.

Try this experiment, brothers and sisters in Christ, when you are experiencing a difficulty, different kinds of difficulties—because each person, just as he has a shadow that clings to him, so too does he have one or more difficulties that cling to him—try, in such difficulties, instead of revolting, to pray that God grants you patience, and you will see what ease you will feel in your life if you think that what was given to you as suffering is for your sins. And also think of what bad things you have done, for which you are being chastised with suffering. If you place the blame on yourselves, who are the cause of the suffering—that you made a mistake, you committed misdeeds, abuses, transgressions, and you forgot—reflect so that you can remember them, repent, pray that you may be forgiven, and you will feel a real, great ease in your heart and in your being. This work of divine grace in us usually happens to us if, after an exam of conscience and sincere repentance, we entrust the purpose and the rest of our life to God, saying in our mind a short prayer like this: “Lord, I know that You arrange all things for my benefit. Even if I do not understand Your behavior towards me, I pray that You never abandon me and that You help me, so that I may always do Your holy will in my life.”

There is, however, another aspect that we must continue to discuss. There are Christians who live an honest and careful life—I reminded you of this. They toil in service of the good, they pray, fast, and help those in need, and still, they have their share of tribulations. They are especially troubled when they see others doing thousands of bad things and with all this everything goes well for them. Such Christians should never forget that success and joy in life gained through sin are not worthy of envy, because every sin done in this life by us will be paid for. It is a debt that must be paid—we either pay it here or beyond. It is better to pay for it here, through suffering, through difficulties, because every abuse and every sin that a person does in this earthly life naturally retaliates against him—now or later, usually, in a moment we are not expecting. He is struck by an illness in body or soul, or by pain, loss, dishonor, and even by unexpected death, a death without hope for salvation.

Those who are good, as attentive as they may be to their personal life, cannot remain without sin. Possibly, they are overcome by greed, envy, pride, or other hidden sins. And their outward good deed is not as pure as it should be before God, to Him Who sees what is within us. And thus, cherishing their zeal, God chastises and scolds them through suffering, so that on one hand He may verify their faith in Him, and on the other hand help them be better, even more humble, even more patient, even more understanding of the suffering and weaknesses of others. 

Excerpts from a homily on the Sunday after the Elevation of the Holy Cross

Trans. note: Saint Sofian fell asleep in the Lord while the Trisagion Hymn was being sung during the Divine Liturgy for the Elevation of the Holy Cross on Sep 14, 2002. He is the first Romanian Saint of the 21st century and a testament to the possibility of personal sanctity even within the difficulties of our times.