Matth. 16, 24.
If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
It is written about the Empress Helena that she found the cross. So we also want to preach about the cross today, namely how the holy cross is found and must be venerated. First of all, you know that the wood of the cross is held in great honor; I praise this, but I condemn the abuse, especially of those who seek salvation in the outward sign of the cross, let Christ go, and want to find salvation in the cross, sometimes in this place, sometimes in another, in the chapel or church. This is how it was with the brazen serpent in the Old Testament: those who looked at it were to be healed; so also those who believe in Christ are to be healed, and those who look at the cross in faith. Nevertheless, God did not want the serpent of brass to be worshipped or sacrificed to. Therefore, Ezekiel destroyed it by divine command. This is what bishops and prelates are supposed to do with such chapels today, but they do the opposite.
by granting indulgences for it. The external cross should not be venerated with waxen images or anything else, but only in faith.
The other abuse is that now and then pieces of the cross are shown framed in gold. But it would not be necessary to adorn it with gold and silver, but it would be better to give it to the poor. Before the times of Helena and before the times of invention, the cross was more honored in the heart; but now that it is set in gold, the hearts are seduced.
3 Therefore notice what is written in Matth. 16, 24: "Whoever wants to follow me, let him take up his cross and follow me. See, here Christ made a difference between his cross and my cross. Christ does not want us to carry his cross, even if we try to do so only with an outward mirror fencing. Because Christ carried his cross, you should also carry your cross, if you want to be a Christian. For what good is it for you to carry the cross in your hand, since you lack faith and love? You
Therefore, it is better to serve your neighbor than to carry a cross with your body. However, I do not reject this as if it should not happen at all, but because the order is reversed, in that one carries the cross outwardly, but not inwardly in the heart.
Today is the day of the invention of the cross, so let us see how the cross is found. Cross actually means a suffering that is connected with shame and disgrace. Paul speaks of this (Phil. 2, 8.): "Christ became obedient to the point of death", but not to a bad death, but adds, "to death on the cross", that is, to a shameful death. This is how Christ had to suffer in the most ignominious way. Therefore the cross is called the real suffering of the Christians. For differently a Christian suffers, differently the others, than, Jews, pagans etc. So the martyrs, even though they were completely innocent, still had to suffer all kinds of shame for the sake of Christ. Thus it is written in Ps. 142, 5: "Look to your right hand, and behold, there is no one who wants to know me; I cannot escape, no one takes care of my soul", there is no one who takes care of my life. Behold, this is actually cross, where innocence is, and yet is not compassion, but the most shameful death, whether one suffers already without guilt. But if one is considered guilty by men, they all retreat, as many as there are of them. It was the same with Christ, that is why he said (Matth. 11, 6.): "Blessed is he who does not take offense at me." So Christ also proclaimed before that the word would be fulfilled in him (Luc. 22, 37.): "He is numbered among the workers of iniquity." Those, then, do not bear their cross who act and fight in judgment against those who blaspheme them; as prelates do now, who bear their cross in such a way that they do not want to be touched in any way by anyone. Therefore, if you want to be considered a Christian, take up your cross.
But what is the invention of this cross? Certainly none other than in the Scriptures and in the Gospel, as therein Christ says (Matth. 16, 24.): "Whoever wants to follow me, let him take up his cross" etc., let him recognize me in faith, and prove by his
Love your neighbor as I have done to him. For this means finding the cross with the heart. The cross, therefore, is not to be esteemed highly, which is found here or there set in gold, but it is found in the heart, through faith, from the Gospel.
(6) But if the cross is invented, how must it be raised up and honored? I answer: Just as the invention takes place inwardly in the heart alone, so also the exaltation consists in our following Christ, so that when we hear that it is Christ's cross, we then do not flee, but say: "Would to God that I were worthy for your sake, O Lord Jesus Christ, to bear the cross. So the apostles left the council's presence with joy etc. It is better, then, to take the ducat and give it to the poor neighbor than to decorate the cross with it externally. For the first, and not the other, is what God wants and requires. That is why he himself carried the cross for our good.
(7) The greatest sanctities, which must be honored more than all outward things, are therefore the reproach of Christ and his saints, which they have suffered. For by these things faith was proved, and charity exercised, that we also might do likewise. But we do not honor the shame and faith of the saints, but only their bones or the cross. We want to look at the outward things, but leave behind faith and love, which we should rather look at. Ps. 116:15: "The death of his saints is accounted worthy in the sight of the Lord." Why does he say "death," which all fear? etc. Because they have thereby proved to us their faith and love, and have shown us that they bear their cross. If we wanted to be such, it would now be high time with us. For the time will come when the elect must be tested, whether they boast in truth or in hypocrisy that they bear their cross. For those who suffer death for their sins, as murderers, bear neither their cross nor Christ's cross. See elsewhere etc. Just as Christ laid down his life for us, so we also should lay down our lives for the brethren. For this is truly bearing the cross etc.