What matters about the cross is that God honoured the faith of Jesus, and God did not allow violent political forces to stamp out his life even though they had killed him.
What we celebrate today, and in every Eucharist, is the offer of life, eternal life:
Our liturgy today is not excusing violence, or valorising suffering.
Our liturgy today is not asking us to accept the blame for Jesus having to die.
Our liturgy today is celebrating the faithfulness of Jesus, even to death, death on a cross.
Our liturgy today is inviting us to embrace that same faithfulness to God.
Our liturgy today is offering us the grace we need to be faithful people, just like Jesus.
The full text of this sermon is available online.