by Sister Renee Delvaux
This Sunday is the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, which celebrates three historical events: the finding of the true cross by St. Helena, the dedication of the basilica built on Calvary by Constantine, and the restoration of the true cross to Jerusalem.
The spiritual celebration of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is a remembrance and celebration of God's greatest work: His Son Jesus' saving death on the cross and His resurrection. The holy cross is the symbol of salvation, divine love and compassion: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life." (Jn 3: 16)
How do we respond to this awesome outpouring of love? We fall on our knees and humbly pray:
Lately, my prayer has become, "Lamb of God, you take away the sin/s of the world;" not in a "nice" way, but in a very hard way. For surely, we live in a world steeped in sin (violence, inequity in all its forms, deceit, exploitation and oppression ...) My prayer is asking God, "What do you mean by this -- 'Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world?!' If the 'sin of the world' is 'taken away' through the life, death, and rising of JESUS, why are we in such a terrible state?"
Yes, this is a "hard" prayer, but it is a "true" prayer.
The "cross" is always hard.
And It is the "true-ness," the "real-ness" of the "hard" cross, that is redeeming.
As it is said, "there is no cheap grace."
What an awesome feast day for our Community!