Spiritual Reflection
On 14 September 2021, we celebrate the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. In this feast, we celebrate the cross itself. Exaltation means to raise high, to sing praise to, to lift up. This feast is a reminder whenever you see the cross to exalt, to praise God for loving us so much that God gave God’s only Son, Jesus.
Many are faced with the puzzling reality of why we honour the cross, why we relive such a horrific event, a brutal murder. In fact, the Crucifixion is the greatest act of love ever known, and for those who look upon the cross with faith, it has the power to transform us. The power to remind us to give ourselves to others.
The cross is a physical reminder of the sacrifice of Christ. In Mark 8:34 Christ invites us, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” This scripture is a reminder for Christians to not just wear the cross or even admire it, but to make it the heart of their lives, to serve others and carry on the mission of Jesus as they ‘take up the cross’. The message of the Gospel reminds us that we are called to serve.
The cross is a cherished symbol of atonement, forgiveness, grace, and love. This feast presents us with an opportunity, an invitation to discover love through serving others. It could be as simple as making regular phone calls to someone who may be lonely during isolation. Perhaps there is someone in our lives we feel God is calling us to forgive. Perhaps we could use some of our own resources to serve, for example mowing an eldery neighbour’s lawn or organising an uber eats delivery to a family who may be doing it tough financially.