The Exaltation of the Holy Cross: A Profound Reflection on Its Meaning and Significance
September 14, 2023 | Thursday, Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Thursday of the twenty third week of ordinary time, Gyaviira Luwaga, Kawuku Bunga, Catholic Extension, US Catholic magazine, CatholicTV
John 3:13–17
Jesus said to Nicodemus: “No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.
Daily prayer:
On this day of the exaltation of the Holy Cross, I turn to you, Almighty Lord, with a fervent heart and a keen gaze, offering thanks for the precious gift of our Lord and God. Praising God for His boundless love and care for us, I humbly implore your mercy, for I, a humble sinner, have at times overlooked your abundant grace while dwelling in the present. Cloaked in sin’s shadow, I am engulfed in satisfaction so much so that sometimes I fail to realise your divine purpose. Through your mercy, give me the Will to approach you with adoration and love, seeking cleansing from the blemishes wrought by my own actions.
Show mercy upon me, O Lord, and bestow upon me the ability to continually remember the profound significance of the Cross in my life. Grant me the wisdom, as I journey through each day, to discern your love, compassion, sacrifice, and mercy. Likewise, endow me with the determination to kindle a fervour for God and my fellow human beings, so that my deeds, imperfect as they may be, forever mirror your humility and commitment to fulfilling God’s divine will, to the exclusion of all else.
Amidst these aspirations, grant me the insight to hold fast to the intercession of the Blessed Mother, whose example ignites within me an unwavering dedication to following your divine plan as she did on your journey to Calvary. I seek all of this through Christ, my Lord. Amen.
Encountering Christ:
The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, celebrated on September 14th, occupies a significant place in the Catholic liturgical calendar. This day serves as a commemoration of the Cross of Jesus Christ, symbolizing both profound suffering and redemption. It holds deep theological and spiritual significance within Christianity, marking the elevation of the Cross from an instrument of suffering to a powerful symbol of triumph, redemption, and victory over evil and death through Christ’s sacrificial death and resurrection. This feast underscores Christ’s humility and self-sacrifice as a model for believers, fostering healing, reconciliation, and forgiveness in our lives. It highlights the pivotal role of faith in Christ for salvation and encourages devout veneration of the Cross as a sacred reminder of God’s profound love expressed through the Cross of Christ.
Historical Context and Biblical Foundation
The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross traces its origins to the early Christian Church, with historical accounts dating back to the fourth century. Tradition holds that St. Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine, discovered the True Cross in Jerusalem during a pilgrimage in the Holy Land. This significant event prompted the establishment of a feast dedicated to the veneration of the Cross, celebrating its recovery from obscurity.
The biblical foundation for this feast is rooted in the Gospel of John 3:13–17, where Jesus speaks to Nicodemus about the necessity of His being “lifted up” on the Cross. This passage not only predicts the crucifixion but also reveals the profound purpose behind Christ’s sacrifice: to offer eternal life to those who believe in Him. The Cross, which was once a symbol of shame and punishment, became the instrument of salvation and love through Jesus Christ.
Theological Significance
The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross carries immense theological significance. It underscores the core teachings of the Catholic Church, encapsulating the mystery of the Cross as an instrument of God’s boundless love, mercy, and redemption.
Redemption and Salvation
At the heart of this feast is the concept of redemption. St. Thomas Aquinas, a renowned Catholic theologian, emphasized the idea that the Cross was the means by which humanity was redeemed from sin and death. By willingly offering Himself on the Cross, Jesus took upon Himself the sins of humanity, thereby reconciling humanity with God. This act of self-sacrifice demonstrates God’s unfathomable love and His desire for the salvation of all.
One of the key passages from Aquinas’s writings that reflects this concept of redemption is found in his “Summa Theologica” in the section on the Incarnation:
“Since the soul of Christ, as was said above, was free from all debt of sin, His flesh, whereby He bore our sins, was the instrument of His Godhead, having a share in its action. And therefore, through that which was assumed in Him, inasmuch as it was united to Him, there flowed into us the virtue of His Godhead, as Gregory says in a homily for Pentecost (Hom. xxx in Ev.).”
In this passage, Aquinas emphasizes the idea that Christ’s humanity, represented by His flesh and, by extension, the Cross, served as the instrument through which humanity’s sins were borne and redeemed by His divine nature. This union of divine and human in Christ’s person demonstrates God’s profound love and desire for the salvation of all.
The Triumph of Love Over Sin
St. Francis of Assisi, known for his deep spiritual insights, saw the Cross as a symbol of God’s transformative love. He believed that the Cross was not a mere instrument of suffering but a manifestation of divine love that overcame sin and darkness. Francis’ devotion to the Crucifix led him to live a life of humility, poverty, and self-sacrifice, imitating Christ’s example on the Cross.
Wisdom
The Church Fathers and revered saints have left us with profound insights into the meaning of the Cross, enriching our understanding within the Catholic tradition. They consistently regarded the Cross as a symbol of triumph over evil, a wellspring of healing, and a beacon of hope. St. Augustine, eloquently likened the Cross to the “tree of life,” drawing a poignant contrast with the tree in the Garden of Eden that led to humanity’s fall. This comparison underscores the redemptive power of the Cross, which counters the consequences of original sin. Similarly, St. John Chrysostom, in his homilies, extolled the Cross as the vehicle for our spiritual healing, emphasizing that through Christ’s wounds on the Cross, we find both physical and spiritual remedies. Furthermore, St. Teresa of Ávila, a mystic and doctor of the Church, illuminated the Cross as a path to profound union with God. She encouraged embracing the trials and sufferings symbolized by the Cross, seeing them as opportunities for spiritual growth and a deeper connection with the divine. These perspectives collectively emphasize the Cross’s multifaceted significance as a symbol of victory, healing, hope, and spiritual transformation in the Catholic faith.
Daily lessons
The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is not merely an abstract theological concept; it has practical implications for the lives of believers. It calls us to embrace the Cross in our daily journey of faith.
Embracing Suffering
The Cross reminds us that suffering is an integral part of the human experience. Just as Christ endured suffering on the Cross for our sake, we, too, must face our trials and tribulations with faith and hope. The Cross teaches us that suffering can be redemptive when borne with love and trust in God.
Self-Sacrificial Love
The Cross challenges us to cultivate self-sacrificial love in our lives. St. Francis of Assisi’s example of living a life of poverty and service reflects the call to imitate Christ’s self-emptying love. By loving others sacrificially, we participate in the salvific work of the Cross.
Forgiveness and Reconciliation
The Cross also calls us to practice forgiveness and reconciliation. Just as Christ forgave those who crucified Him, we are called to forgive those who have wronged us. Through forgiveness, we participate in the healing power of the Cross, fostering unity and inner and outer peace in our communities.
The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross serves as a profound reminder of Christianity’s core message: the Cross, once a symbol of suffering and death, has been transformed into the wellspring of our hope and salvation. Moreover, this feast issues a call to action, urging us to manifest the practical implications of the Cross in our everyday existence. It impels us to confront adversity with unwavering faith, nurture self-sacrificial love, and exemplify forgiveness and reconciliation in our interactions. Through these actions, we actively partake in the ongoing process of redemption, becoming living witnesses to the Cross’s transformative potency in our contemporary world. Ultimately, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross beckons us to contemplate the profound love of God and, in turn, respond with love and gratitude in our own lives.
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