Holy Cross Day (Festival)

The Lord be with you

September 14 is Holy Cross Day, a festival that dates back to the fourth century AD. It commemorates Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine the Great, finding what she believed to be the True Cross (the cross on which Jesus was crucified). As the Church has celebrated this day for many centuries, it is not at all surprising that many have written about it. Below is a quote from Andrew of Crete (650-712). Andrew was a distinguished preacher and hymnographer. It is said that he introduced the form of hymnody called kanon into the church.

We are celebrating the feast of the cross which drove away darkness and brought in the light. As we keep this feast, we are lifted up with the crucified Christ, leaving behind us earth and sin so that we may gain the things above. So great and outstanding a possession is the cross that he who wins it has won a treasure. Rightly could I call this treasure the fairest of all fair things and the costliest, in fact as well as in name, for on it and through it and for its sake the riches of salvation that have been lost sere restored to us.

Had there been no cross, Christ could not have been crucified. Had there been no cross, life itself could not have been nailed to the tree. And if life had not been nailed to it, there would be no streams of immortality pouring from Christ’s side, blood and water for the world’s cleansing. The legal bond of our sin would not be canceled, we should not have obtained our freedom, we should not have enjoyed the fruit of the tree of life and the gates of paradise would not stand open. Had there been no cross, death would not have been trodden under foot, nor hell despoiled.

Therefore, the cross is something wonderfully great and honorable. It is great because through the cross the many noble acts of Christ found their consummation—very many indeed, for both his miracles and his sufferings were fully rewarded with victory. The cross is honorable because it is both the sign of God’s suffering and the trophy of his victory. It stands for his suffering because on it he freely suffered unto death. But it is also his trophy because it was the means by which the devil was wounded and death conquered; the barred gates of hell were smashed, and the cross became the one common salvation of the whole world.

The cross is called Christ’s glory; it is saluted as his triumph. We recognize it as the cup he longed to drink and the climax of the sufferings he endured for our sake. As to the cross being Christ’s glory, listen to the words: Now is the Son of Man glorified, and in him God is glorified, and God will glorify him at once. And once more; Father, glorify your name. Then a voice came from heaven: I have glorified it and will glorify it again. Here he speaks of the glory that would accrue to him through the cross. And if you would understand that the cross is Christ’s triumph, hear what he himself also said: When I am lifted up, then I will draw all men to myself. Now you can see that the cross is Christ’s glory and triumph.

(Quote source: For All the Saints, volume 2, year 1, page 1313-1314, The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau)

The following link will take you to the post made last year about this Festival if you would like more information to ponder. https://ourredeemernewark.org/holy-cross-day-festival/

Today’s closing prayer was written by J.K. Wilhelm Loehe (1808-1872). Loehe is remembered January 2.

Prayer: O High and Mighty Prince and Bishop of Life, Lord Jesus Christ, Who wast lifted up upon the cross that Thou mightest draw the sheep of Thy fold unto Thee, I have comfort in Thy beloved cross, and mine eyes behold in it, by faith, a glorious altar, whence Thou dost preach unto me and to all Christians, and whence Thou dost bear testimony of the eternal, unspeakable love of our Heavenly Father toward a lost mankind, and where, also, Thou dost show me what horrible things are sin, and hell, and the eternal wrath of God, which no creature in heaven or in earth could appease, except alone the shedding of Thy blood. O let it be unto me the power unto my salvation. Amen.

Other appropriate prayers

• For archeology in the Holy Lands
• For the spread of the Christian faith
• For Christian leaders in our country
• For the spread of the influence of the cross in our country and around the world

Blessings in Christ,
Pastor John Rickert