«For the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,

but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. »

(1 Corinthians 1, 18)

The Cross of the Lord sign of the new life in the Church

The feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross that we honor on September 14 has a double meaning - historical and spiritual.

From a historical point of view, it reminds us of the moment when Empress Elena discovers in Jerusalem parts of the Holy Cross on which Christ was crucified and the event of the presentation of the Holy Cross by the Bishop Makarios of Jerusalem before the believers and the consecration of the Resurrection of the Lord Basilica in the same city (335 AD) where it will be laid at that time for worship, support and consolation of the believers. The feast also reminds us of the moment when Emperor Heraclius manages to bring back the Holy Cross from Persians to be raised again by Patriarch Zechariah for the joy of the believers.

But this feast day also has a second meaning - spiritual - which continues over time until today and until the end of the time. St. John Chrysostom, speaking of the meaning of the Holy Cross says: «The Cross is the will of the Father, the glory of the Only Begotten One, the joy of the Spirit, the ornament of the angels, the strengthening of the Church, the praise of Paul the Apostle,[1] the city of the saints, the light of the whole world. »[2] The Cross we elevate and honor at this feast day has a rich meaning. It is a reminder of the saving work of God as Holy Trinity and the gift that this work brings to the whole world - the angelic world, the Church and to all.

The Cross as a wood on which the Savior Jesus Christ was crucified represents a fulfillment of the will of God the Father. He is the One who sent His Son for our salvation.

« I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me » (John 5:30). The Cross reminds us of the relationship between God the Father and God the Son in the whole plan of the humankind salvation. The Cross was an instrument of scorn and torture in ancient times, being the most humiliating and cruel method of punishment, applied to the thieves and the greatest criminals. Through the crucifixion of the Son of God, this becomes an instrument that reminds us of the glory of the Savior who has been crucified for our salvation. From the tool of scorn, it becomes an instrument by which we honor God the Son for the wonderful work performed on our behalf. On the Cross Christ won the victory over the devil for our salvation. « Learn now - says St. John Chrysostom - that this victory has been obtained without us. We didn’t dip the weapons in the blood. We didn't stay on the battlefield. We did not receive the wounds, we did not see the war, but we won the victory. The Master fought, and we were crown. »[3] We understand from here why speaking of the Holy Cross, make us think of the glory of the Savior Jesus Christ acquired through His sacrifice for our liberation.

The Cross reminds us of the work of the Holy Spirit in the Church. Through the Cross Christ acquired for us, for the Church, the gift of the Holy Spirit. « When the priest stands before the holy table - says St. John Chrysostom - with his hands outstretched to heaven, calling on the Holy Spirit to come, and to touch those put in front of him, there is much tranquility; there is a great silence when the Spirit gives grace, when He descended upon, when He touched those things put forward (...) ».[4] Due to the Cross, in the liturgical sacrifice of the Church, the work of the grace of the Holy Spirit transforms the gifts of the believers - bread and wine - into the Body and Blood of the Lord that is offered to us for the eternal life.

This is how through the sacrifice on the Cross of the Savior Jesus Christ in the Church is present the entire work of the Holy Trinity.

But the Cross also means the strength of the Church. Why this? St. John Chrysostom also responds to us: «Due to the Cross we are no longer in the widowhood, that we have received the Groom; we no longer fear the wolf, because we have with us the Good Shepherd. ... Due to the Cross we no longer tremble in front of the tyrant, because we walk along with the Emperor. »[5] Through the Cross the Church is strengthened because in her midst is present Christ. The believer is no longer afraid of what will happen because he feels the protective and healing presence of the Savior. The Church, the community of believers, is strengthened because with them is present Christ who is the guide and the foundation of their new life they have received through Baptism. They are strengthened because they see and feel the new life, springing in their midst, which renew each of them. Through the Cross, humanity feels the New Covenant present in the Church, which is the foundation of the new life.

The Church becomes a fortress of holiness and saints. The believers see the Church, the new holy city, as a new heaven, the image of the one lost by sin.

The Cross is not separated from the Resurrection. Christ after His third day resurrection from the dead, shows St. Thomas the Apostle the wounds of His side and His hands.[6] That is why the Cross remains present in His resurrection. The Cross and Resurrection remind us of the need to clean up the passions in our lives but also the joy that comes with it, that is, the overwhelming light of our definitive transformation into people of the Kingdom of God. The Cross brings light into the middle of the whole world.

Let us follow the example of the One who was crucified on the Cross because it will transform our lives. The Cross we contemplate at this feast day is universal purification,[7] a sign of the kingdom,[8] invaluable treasure,[9] forgiveness of sins, example of prayer for enemies, [10] etc.

In a disturbed and agitated world as in which we live, the word of the Cross means foolishness for the one who does not believe because it represents everything that is contrary to what is promoted with insistence and without any solid foundation. For those who believe, the word of the Cross is the power of God for it urges us to resemble to the Master who created man and, in His image and likeness. The askesis of the Cross helps us to assume in the personal and social-community life the values ​​of the Kingdom of God. They change our lives and make us like Christ. They open the gates of the Kingdom and make us feel the breath of the Paradise to come. They transfigure our life and personal relationships in what we will live at a much deeper level in the Kingdom of heaven.

Let us follow the example of the Cross of the Lord, because it is inspiration, guide, protection, blessing and strengthening in all the good thing.

† Ioan Casian

Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Canada

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[1] Galatians 6, 14

[2] Homily to the Cross of the Lord p. 84 in St. John Chrysostom. Homilies at the royal holidays and sermons of praise to the saints (translation from Greek and notes by Prof. Dumitru Fecioru). EIBMBOR, Bucharest 2006.

[3] Idem p. 83

[4] Idem p. 85

[5] Homily I at the Cross and at the thief p. 87 in St. John Chrysostom. Homilies at the royal holidays…

[6] John 20, 27; Luc 24, 39

[7] Idem p. 89

[8] Idem p. 93

[9] Idem p. 94

[10] Idem p. 96