Evil Won’t Triumph

Today is the Feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross. In the Liturgy of the Hours Office of Readings, there is discourse today by St. Andrew of Crete which says: “We are celebrating the feast of the cross which drove away darkness and brought in the light. As we keep this feast, we are lifted up with the crucified Christ, leaving behind us earth and sin so that we may gain the things above. So great and outstanding a possession is the cross that he who wins it has won a treasure.” 

The Holy Cross represents Christ’s redemptive work over sin and evil from darkness to light.

How fitting that this great feast should fall in a week where we just witnessed one of the greatest evils of our time: the taking of an innocent and powerful Christian witness (Charlie Kirk) from his beautiful family. When I heard his wife speak following the death, it was so clear to me that evil did not triumph. Charlie’s work and message would continue. He wanted to be known for his faith above all, and indeed he will be. What a powerful, courageous witness to the Gospel message and the dignity and sacredness of marriage and family. 

That’s a living, public example of the wonder of the Holy Cross, and that’s why we exult it today. A grave evil happened. Right before our eyes. But it also bravely showed that evil doesn’t triumph in the end.

We may suffer. We may endure tragedy. We may witness a culture of death and destruction in our midst. But it won’t triumph and it won’t win. Light will overcome all the darkness.