Today is the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross!! We found the cross above in my sister-in-law’s home after she died. One of Mr. Pete’s siblings said that it used to hang in his grandparent’s bedroom wall. We were grateful to be able to bring it home and now it hangs in our bedroom.
What is Today’s Feast Day?
Today’s feast really commemorates three events in church history:
- Saint Helena’s found the true cross. She converted to Christianity at age 63, and was older than that when she went to the Holy Lands and built churches and discovered the cross on which Christ was crucified!
- The dedication of churches built on the site of the Holy Sepulchre and Mount Calvary, and
- The restoration of the True Cross to Jerusalem by Emperor Heraclius II.
What does this feast remind us?
This day of triumph comes just before tomorrow’s commemoration of the Sorrowful Mother. We remember Mary in her sorrow because she willingly picked up the cross that was chosen for her, with all of its joys and sorrows.
In the domestic church, that’s what we are called to do too – from doing little things like picking up after our children and our spouse, to teaching our children, or working at our jobs- all the things that go with the station of our life, doing the things we were called to do.
On a personal note – adult children
Interestingly, at my stage of life, that cross comes in two distinct ways: The hardest is in NOT doing things for my older children as they do adult things for themselves. A few years ago I had to let my son Noah drive on the expressway by himself for the first time. I could have driven him, but I had two other kids at home to homeschool, and taking him myself would have taken away from his sisters’ schooling. Letting him drive alone gave him some independence and a sense of accomplishment. I worried and prayed for him of course, and demanded that he text me when he arrived at his destination and just before he left to return home, but I don’t feel bad about that. I put 17 years into raising him so I guess I can be allowed to be a little protective. That certainly felt like a cross to me, one that I had to accept.
Suffering children
Watching my children suffer is also a cross. During my daughter’s sophomore and junior years, my cross was to stand by while my daughter worked through injuries during her cross country season. I supported her emotionally, financially, and medically, took her to physical therapy, and tried to help her get better. But I couldn’t take away the heartache that came with missing a good portion of yet another season. It was her pain and her burden, but it was also heartache for me. This week my son will have surgery on his broken leg to set the bones with plates and screws. Supporting him during the past weeks with his external fixator and helping him and his wife cope with this injury has also been a cross of sorts.
The thing about crosses – they are an unavoidable part of life. But when we accept them, even welcome them, they make us better and stronger. Today we acknowledge Christ’s cross and how his loving acceptance of it for our sakes, brought Him to his full glory. God used a terrible instrument of destruction to bring about the redemption of the entire human race. That’s what we ponder today.
WAYS TO CELEBRATE
- An appropriate hymn to sing together:
Lift High The Cross
Refrain
Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim,
Till all the world adore His sacred Name.
Led on their way by this triumphant sign,
The hosts of God in conquering ranks combine.
Refrain
Each newborn servant of the Crucified
Bears on the brow the seal of Him Who died.
Refrain
O Lord, once lifted on the glorious tree,
As Thou hast promised, draw the world to Thee.
Refrain
So shall our song of triumph ever be:
Praise to the Crucified for victory.
Refrain
2. One year I used a cross shaped cake pan to make this beautiful cake on this feast day. I used red velvet mix for the inside and white frosting on the outside. I think it made quite a dramatic appearance!
3. Put a cross or a crucifix out in a prominent position today and say the prayer before a crucifix prayer.
