Today marks the celebration of what Pope Saint John Paul II
called the symbol of Christianity. Most of us marked ourselves with it
upon entering the church today; we began Mass with it, and we will end Mass
with it. Essentially, every time Catholics pray, we begin and end our prayer
with it. Many of our bedrooms and dining rooms have one. People of all sorts
wear it around their necks. The priest holds his arms in this shape during the
Eucharistic Prayer. It is the central focal point of every Catholic church. Of
course, I am speaking of the Cross.
The early Christians called the Cross Spes Unica—our
only hope. O Crux ave, spes unica: Hail, O Cross, our only hope. Grant
increase of grace to believers, and remove the sins of the guilty.
Without the Cross, we would have no hope of heaven. Without
the Cross, sin would remain unconquered, death would remain undefeated, and the
gates of paradise would remain closed. That is why the Cross is our only hope. God
has done for us what we were incapable of doing ourselves.
On the Cross, the Lord entered into suffering, humiliation,
abandonment, and death, into human hopelessness. But that means, God is present
in our crosses. There is no circumstance of human suffering where God cannot be
found. Our sufferings, illnesses, griefs, temptations, and humiliations, when united
to Christ, become places of grace, purification, conversion, and deeper union
with God. There is no situation so dark, that God’s light cannot be found.
Today’s feast
is called the Exaltation of the cross.
Literally, from the greek, exaltation means, ‘to bring to light’. The Christian is charged with bringing the
light of the cross to the world and bringing the world to the light of the
cross. We are to lift high the cross in our speech and actions. But that
often means going out to those who suffer, those who despair, those who have
lost sight of God, and helping them to seek the light of Christ in their
sufferings.
Yes, we are to fashion crosses for our homes and churches,
but we are also to seek out those who feel crucified, alone, forsaken, to help
them find hope, healing, and salvation in Christ.
Today is certainly a feast where we focus on the one whom we
worship. But the one whom we worship sends us out, to find him, in the crosses
of others. The saving grace of the cross impels us to bring the light of God’s
love to world grown most dim, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
For special blessings upon Pope Leo, on this his birthday—that
he may continue to be sustained by the grace of the cross in body and soul.
That the Church may lift high the Cross of Christ, proclaiming
salvation in Christ in our words and deeds.
That world leaders may look upon the Son of God, believe in
him, and take hold of the peace and justice that only he can bring.
That all whose lives are marked by suffering may discover
the saving power of the cross of Christ, and be victorious in all their trials.
For those who struggle because of addiction, mental illness,
chronic sickness, unemployment, or ongoing trials of any kind. May Christ, the
Divine Physician, bring healing to all of the suffering.
That all who have died may experience the eternal life won
by the cross of Christ, especially the deceased members of our families,
friends, and parish, for my dear priest friend Father Robert Wendelken on the
anniversary of his death, and all who have departed this life in faith.
Almighty ever-living God, comfort of mourners, strength of
all who toil, may the prayers of those who cry out in any tribulation come
before you, that all may rejoice, because in their hour of need your mercy was
at hand. Through Christ our Lord. (From Good Friday Petitions)
No comments:
Post a Comment