The Cross of Our Salvation

 Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

 

~~~ Numbers 21:4b-9~~Psalm 78~~Philippians 2:6-11~~John 3:13-17~~~

Have you ever wondered what happened to the cross
upon which the body of Jesus was nailed?
Where did they put the cross stained with his holy blood?
Was it buried, burned, hidden, or used again at some future date?

Jewish tradition holds that the cross was hidden
somewhere near the site.
In 326 Saint Helena traveled to Jerusalem
to excavate the area searching for the true cross.
Three crosses were found
one presumably that upon which hung the body of Jesus.

 Constantine ordered the construction of churches
on the excavation site and on Mount Calvary.
These churches were dedicated on September 13 and 14, 335.
By the year 720 the feast of the cross had spread universally.

Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God something to be grasped.
Rather, he emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
coming in human likeness;
and found human in appearance,
he humbled himself,
becoming obedient to death,
even death on a cross.

 

On the one hand it seems odd that we would have a special day
 set aside to reflect on the cross.
The cross itself consisted of two separate pieces of wood;
one perpendicular to the other.
The wood itself has no real significance,
 it becomes important to us because of who was hung
upon these two wooden beams.

The cross symbolizes an instrument of torture
an excruciatingly painful way to die.
  

 

God instructed Moses to lift up the serpent high upon his staff
 so that those bitten could gaze upon it and be healed.
So it is with the cross...Jesus was lifted up on the cross
 so that we may come in humility always to remember how he loved us.
...the Son of Man be lifted up,
so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.
 

 The crucifix is the most visual symbol of our salvation.
Without the crucifixion we might have forgotten the agony
 by which Jesus endured for our sake.
...for the sake of the whole world...

 

I invite you to spend time with the crucifix today.
Look with eyes of gratitude and praise for what was done for you
that day when Jesus hung upon the cross.

Without the cross we might not be able to appreciate
 our many blessings.