The Cross of Christ and its Significance Today

The Holy Mother Church celebrates the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross on September 14 every year. The feast is also known as the Exaltation of the Cross.

According to tradition this day marks the recovery of the original cross on which Christ was crucified. It is said that the Roman Emperor Constantine’s mother St Helena, after her conversion, went to Holy Land in search of the exact location of Christ’s crucifixion and to find and preserve the relics of Christian faith. After much research and discussion with the local people, including the Bishop of the Holy land Macarius, she was able to locate the exact spot of the crucifixion and the original cross. According to tradition the true cross was discovered on 3 May 326 AD. St Helena had a church built over the exact location of the crucifixion, which today is known as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Her son, Emperor Constantine, dedicated this church on 14 September 335 AD.

This true cross became the most valuable treasure for the church and it is highly venerate. Thus the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross came to be celebrated in the church even today.

The true cross, preserved by the church in Jerusalem, was unfortunately stolen by the King of Persia during the Persian invasion. But the same was recovered again in 629 AD and was brought back to Jerusalem by Emperor Heraclius of Constantinople. It was then restored to its original place at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

At the time of Jesus, cross was an instrument of torture and most shameful and cruel form of punishment and death. It was like a bitter bed for the thieves, slaves, robbers and the worst criminals. When Jesus was awarded the punishment of crucifixion, it meant that he was in the category of the worst of criminals despite the fact that he was innocent. He accepted the cross in silence and total obedience to his heavenly Father. In Isaiah 53 we read: “He was oppressed and he was afflicted, yet he didn't open his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, as a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth” (Isaiah 53:7). St Pail thus tells us the most poignant verse in the entire Bible, “He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross” (Phil 2:8).

 Today, for Christians of all denominations, the cross has become a symbol of the Paschal Mystery – the sufferings, death and resurrection of Christ. Honouring and venerating the cross is honouring the one who was crucified on it, Christ Jesus our Lord. It is by hanging on the cross and dying on it that he saved us from sin and eternal damnation.

Jesus had told Nicodemus in the gospel of John: “just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life” (John 3:14-15). We believe that Christ was lifted up on the cross and died on it in order to win for us eternal life.

Thus cross, thus is a sign of salvation, redemption, victory over sin and death. People wear crucifix on their necks; place them in their homes, in the courtyards, on street corners, on church buildings, at the sanctuary, etc. More than a thing of ornamentation, it is an object of devotion and veneration. Cross has been the favourite subject of many a famous paintings, sculpture, poems and songs. More than all these, the crucifix has a special place in the heart of every Christian because of Christ the Saviour who was crucified on it. We begin our day, and all our activities signing with the sign of the cross. Again, we end our day with the sign of the cross on our foreheads. We also believe that cross is a sign of protection from all dangers through the invisible presence of Christ who was crucified on it. Cross thus occupies an important place not only in its external form, but more importantly as a sign of love, life and protection in our hearts.

Jesus had asked his disciples, “ If anyone wants to become my follower, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Lk 9:23). In other words, a follower of Christ has to follow the way of the cross to Calvary with Christ. Our daily crosses are our struggles, hardships, pains, sickness, poverty, hunger, financial problems, wayward children, alcoholic life partner, misunderstanding by our friends, rejection by our near ones, etc. Today the whole world is burdened with the heavy crosses of sufferings caused by the corona virus disease. People are in the agony and anxiety of its gripping and infectious effect. The pandemic has caused untold miseries all over the world by way of lockdown and social distancing, economic slowdown and poverty, loss of job and reverse migration, human misery and a sense of hopelessness. The cross that we are challenged to carry today is too heavy and burdensome. However, in Christ and with him we find our strength and refuge. He who carried the heaviest cross to Calvary will make our crosses light and our Calvary sweet. For, he tells us, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matt 21-33) May the Cross of Christ be our sign of life and salvation.

“We adore you O Christ, and we bless you, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world!”

Fr Joe Eruppakkatt, SSP