On the third Sunday of Great Lent, Fr. Matthew Howell pulls from the epistle reading from Hebrews chapter 4 in which St. Paul says "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Fr. Matthew explains how the Cross of Christ is the throne of glory and grace. He talks about how the Cross is a weapon for everyone on the journey to the kingdom of heaven, which will be the fullness of the experience of God's grace and glory. He also points out that the cross is the portal to the kingdom of heaven, and how it is only through offering our suffering to God in humility that we will experience the grace of God both in this world and in the world to come. He also says that we will only transform our vices into virtues through the cross, suffering in the presence of God rather than asking Christ to suffer in our absence. Along the way, Fr. Matthew quotes from Archimandrite Zacharias Zacharou of Essex (in The Eternal Today, page 63), tells a story about a man taking "pavement" to heaven, mentions lessons from preschool, and distinguishes between fleeting happiness at Pascha and long-lasting joy from having carried our cross and followed Christ.
