The Way of the Cross: Ash Wednesday Homily

A Powerful King Becomes a Peasant

The well-known Danish philosopher, Søren Kierkegaard, liked telling the story of a king who is very powerful and rich. In fact, the king’s power is known throughout the world. But he is an unhappy man, for he is deprived of the one thing he desires most, a beautiful bride to share his kingdom with.

One day, while riding through the streets of a small village, he sees a beautiful peasant girl. She is so lovely that the king falls head over heals in love. He wants her more than anything. He thinks hard how he might win her love. And, he says to himself, “I know what I’ll do. I will draw up a royal decree and require her to be brought before me.” Immediately, he realizes that she will be forced to obey him and her love for him will never be a free choice. 

He says, “I shall call on her in person. I will dress in my finest royal garb, wear my diamond rings, my silver sword, my polished boots, and my most colorful tunic. I will overwhelm her and sweep her off her feet and she will be my bride.” But he lets go of the idea, because he doesn’t want her to marry him for riches and fame. 

Then, he decides to dress like a peasant, drive to the town, and have his carriage let him off. In disguise, he will approach her. But the duplicity of this plan bothers him. At last, he knows what he must do. He takes off his royal robes and puts on peasant’s clothes. Then, he goes to the village and becomes a peasant. He works alongside them and suffers with them. In doing so, he wins his bride. 

God Becomes Man

If certain preachers were to use this story to fit their theological framework, they would undoubtedly tell us that the most important part of the story is actually missing. For in their telling of the story the most important part is when the king and his bride return with pomp and circumstance to the palace. There they indulge in all the royal trappings. These are the preachers who present the Gospel like Robin Leach presented “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.” 

These preachers are the worst of what passes for Christianity on American television. But don’t make the mistake of thinking this is something new. The Apostle Paul deals with a similar problem in Corinth. The Corinthian Church, which he’d planted through his own blood, sweat, and tears, has more or less turned on him. The Corinthian Christians don’t think Paul is flashy enough or polished enough of a speaker. They’ve grown tired of his singular message and want something that is more appealing to their “refined” physical and spiritual appetites. 

And so Paul responds to their complaints and accusations by re-explaining all that Jesus has done for them and how they’re called to live as Christ-followers. It’s anything but a life of luxury, much less a new teaching aimed at sophisticated spiritual tastes. So what is it that God has done through Jesus? Paul says it simply and concisely: “For our sake he [God] made him [Jesus] to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21, NRSV). God loves us so much that he’s become one of us. On the cross Jesus bears the weight and burden of the sins of the whole world. And by all appearances, it crushes him. It does him in. Except we know that it doesn’t. Jesus proves to be sin’s undoing on the cross. His resurrection ratifies his victory. 

The Via Crucis, or Way of the Cross

But before we get to the glory of sharing in Christ’s resurrection, says Paul, there’s this life to live, and it’s all about following Christ in the via crucis (the way of the cross). Apparently, this doesn’t sit well with some of the Corinthian Christians. They believe they’ve already been resurrected with Christ. The way of the cross proves a stumbling block to them. It makes Paul weak in their eyes.  

Far from making him weaker, says Paul, accepting the way of the cross strengthens him, and gives him the endurance to bear “afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labours, sleepless nights, and hunger” (2 Corinthians 6:5, NRSV). Through enduring these hardships Paul knows he’s growing in “purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, and truthful speech” (2 Corinthians 6:6, NRSV). In short, Paul is telling us that the via crucis is God’s way of preparing us to be partakers in his resurrected and eternal life. 

Kierkegaard’s story actually reveals a profound truth. Although it can be misunderstood or corrupted, Kierkegaard’s story succeeds in illustrating the Incarnation. Christ is the King who leaves his royal chambers and becomes a peasant to suffer on our behalf. In other words, he follows the way of the cross. By doing so, he has won for himself a bride—that’s the Church—and will exult her to the riches and glory of eternal life. 

Dealing with Our Impatience

The hope of the resurrection and eternal life is ours in Christ Jesus. But it’s a reality that is still on its way. It’s not yet here. The Corinthian Church wanted it now. “Give it to us now!” That impatient mindset and disposition of heart is told and retold throughout the biblical narrative. Said the Israelites to Samuel, “We want a king right now!” Said the prodigal to his father, “Give me my inheritance now!” Getting to the New Creation right now never works out as intended. It only produces plastic bananas and hucksters pedaling lifestyles-of-the-rich-and-famous-Christianity. It’s a façade. It promises big bank accounts and perfect teeth instead of what matters most to God—repentant and contrite hearts. 

Lent is the Church’s way of dealing with our impatience by leading us for forty days into the wilderness. In other words, Lent recalls our attention to the via crucis. Imposing ashes with the sign of the cross is a tactile act compelling us to remember our mortality. We are dust and to dust we shall return. Amen. 

How will you be following the way of the cross during Lent? Leave a comment below.

(This homily was delivered at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Dallas on February 26, 2020. The scripture for Ash Wednesday was: 2 Corinthians 5:20 – 6:10.)

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