The Third Sunday of Great Lent

The Third Sunday of Lent is that of the Veneration of the Cross.

The cross stands in the midst of the church in the middle of the lenten

season not merely to remind men of Christ's redemption and to keep

before them the goal of their efforts, but also to be venerated as that

reality by which man must live to be saved. "He who does not take up

his cross and follow me is not worthy of me" ( Mt 10:38 ). For in the

Cross of Christ Crucified lies both "the power of God and the wisdom

of God" for those being saved ( 1 Cor 1:24 ).