Today Christians the world over are celebrating the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. In the Anglican tradition, it is known as Holy Cross Day. Unlike other holy days, such as Good Friday, that commemorate the passion and suffering of Jesus, this is a day set aside to venerate (honor) and celebrate the cross itself as the instrument of our redemption. In particular, the feast day commemorates three events connected to cross (1) the discovery of the True Cross in 326AD, (2) the dedication of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and (3) the rediscovery of the True Cross in 629AD after it had fallen into the hands of the Persian Emperor Chosroes II.
As someone who grew up in the Baptist tradition, I never gave much thought to relics such as the True Cross. My thinking was slightly on the skeptical side, “how could we truly know that this piece of wood was the actual cross on which Jesus died?” The truth is that we don’t, we can’t verify scientifically and without reasonable doubt and connect it specifically to Jesus’ crucifixion. The historical fact is that St. Helena, the mother of Constantine, set out to discover various sites from the biblical accounts. Based on the testimony of local Christian believers she discovered the site that is believed to be the place of Jesus’ crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. This can be trusted beyond a reasonable doubt, to be the most likely place of these events. Christians have worshipped at this site for two thousand years, and it is even documented by Eusebius in his book The History of the Church. For this reason, Constantine ordered the construction of a church to cover the site to house the many pilgrims that would come to visit the site, and to keep it safe.
What is more difficult to confirm, however, is whether or not the pieces of wood that St. Helena found at the site are in fact the True Cross. In reality, it doesn’t affect the plan of salvation one way or the other. Yet for many Christians around the world, their belief in the True Cross is unshaken and vitally important to their faith. For this reason, the commemoration of the rediscovery of the True Cross in 629AD is included in the celebration of Holy Cross Day.
So how should we commemorate this day? First, we can ponder the mystery of our faith: Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again (BCP Eucharistic Liturgy). What a glorious reality that the Son of God gave his life for us on the cross. All of this to bring us back into a right relationship with the Father. Second, ponder the nature of sin. Sin separates us from God, and a life that is lived for the gratification of our sinful desires is not pleasing to God. Yet through the cross we are made right with God. For this reason it may be good to spend Holy Cross Day in prayer and fasting over sin and our attachment to it. During the lenten season we are called to fast and pray for much the same reason. Holy Cross Day could be a one day lenten fast that can recalibrate our affections to Jesus and away from our sinful desires. Third, this day should exhort us to tell others about Jesus. We cannot ponder the mystery of the cross without thinking of others who do not yet know the love and grace of the gospel. Prayerfully consider one person you can share the gospel with today.
As I reflect on the Feast of the Holy Cross I am reminded of the old Baptist hymn by George Bernard written in 1913 which reflects on the cross:
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross
The emblem of suffering and shame
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down
I will cling to the old rugged cross
And exchange it some day for a crown
Collect (Prayer) of the Day
Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ was lifted high upon the Cross that he might draw the whole world to himself: Mercifully grant that we, who glory in the mystery of our redemption, may have grace to take up our cross and follow him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. (taken from the Book of Common Prayer, 2019).
Bible Reading
Philippians 2:5-11 (ESV)
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Photo Credit: Unsplash.com
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