Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Numbers 21:4-9 Philippians 2:6-11 John 3:13-17
Perhaps we have become too familiar with the image of the Crucifix! We take it for granted that this image can be displayed anywhere. It is used as jewellery, as decoration, as the subject of art masterpieces and even as enhancement for the most secular of trade displays.
What if other forms of execution were displayed like this? Regularly we are warned on TV that the images about to be shown ‘might disturb’ us. The image of the crucifix is, of course, meant to disturb us – to remind us of our belief that Jesus died to save us from our sins. It is proper that we feel great shame and sorrow when we look on the crucified Lord. Today we honour the Cross on which he died. St Catherine of Sienna bids us “Look upon the one crucified and know the extent you are loved by God.”
Though many of the images of the Cross are made of metal or gold, the Cross on which Jesus died was Wood, the Tree of the Cross. From the beginning of the story of Creation and Salvation the Tree has conveyed the reality of our relationship with God. In the garden of Eden there was ‘the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil’ (Gen 2:9) and God promised that those who prove victorious ‘I will feed from the tree of life set in the God’s paradise’ (Rev 2:7). Through the burning bush (tree) God spoke to Moses and it was from a sycamore tree that Zacchaeus was able to observe Jesus and come to know Him. So often Jesus emphasises our likeness to trees and our call to bear fruit (e.g. the fig tree that does not bear fruit and the vine of which we are branches). Of course the tree was to become a sign of a curse and we are told by St Paul that ‘Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law’ since scripture says: ‘cursed be everyone who is hanged on a tree’ (Gal 3:13). So, what was a sign of curse is now for us the sign of Redemption, of God’s love and of New Life.
The feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross commemorates the discovery of the True Cross in Jerusalem by St Helena in 326AD. After crucifixion crosses were discarded and St Helena went to Jerusalem to find the cross on which Jesus died. She was told by an old Jew that they were buried beneath a pagan temple. The temple was torn down and three wooden crosses were uncovered. There was no way of telling which one was the true cross. A sick woman was brought and also a dead man who was being carried for burial. The three crosses were brought in contact with them. Two of the crosses had no effect but upon contact with the third cross the sick woman was healed and the dead man came to life.
For Christians, the cross is not just a reminder of the suffering and death of Jesus, it is most specially THE reminder that it did not end with death. It is because of the Cross there came the Resurrection. And, as St Paul says, ‘If Jesus has not risen from the dead, our Faith is in vain’.
We venerate your cross, Lord: we praise and glorify your holy Resurrection: because of the wood of the cross, joy has come into the world (Benedictus Ant Morning Prayer of the Church)