Holy Cross Day

The Collect
Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ was lifted high upon the cross that he might draw the whole world to himself: Mercifully grant that we, who glory in the mystery of our redemption, may have grace to take up our cross and follow him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

The Psalm

98

The Readings
Isaiah 45:21-25     +     Philippians 2:5-11     +     John 12:31-36a

Sing to the Lord a new song, *
for he has done marvelous things.
With his right hand and his holy arm *
has he won for himself the victory.

He remembers his mercy and faithfulness to the house of Israel,*

and all the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
~ Psalm 98:1-2,4

The universality of God's victory over death is the theme of this feast. The Psalmist proclaims that, not only has it been witnessed by all the world, but God's victory is a cause of rejoicing for all nations and even the earth itself. In Isaiah, the LORD calls to all the ends of the earth: "Turn to me and be saved . . . To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear." The language is echoed in the letter to the Philippians. And in the Gospel, Jesus declares in no uncertain terms: "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." 

This universal victory is also reflected in the traditional customs and hymns of the feast, which assert that the wood of this shameful instrument of death has become for all the world the place of life, a tree bearing fruit to eternity:

Blest tree, whose chosen branches bore

the wealth that did the world restore,
the price which none but he could pay

to spoil the spoiler of his prey.

(Hymn 162 - The royal banners forward go)

There is an association here of the cross of Christ with the tree of life, which we read about not only in the opening chapters of Genesis, but also in the closing chapters of Revelation, where on the banks of the river of life that flows from the throne of God the fruit-bearing tree grows--and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations (Rev. 22:1-2).

Today we are reminded that the cross is not merely a symbol, not just a focus for meditation, or an unlikely example of hope. The cross is the very place of God’s love revealed for us--and all the depths of our sin and sorrow and brokenness are not greater than that love. At the place where we least expect it, even where we see the horror of death displayed--at that very place the evil and brokenness of the world is judged and driven out by the victory of God.

"The New Creation, Opened by the Cross" by Aidan O'Flynn and Jana Laxa; 
inspired by Paul Gauckler's "Sketch of the Floor Mosaic of the Byzantine-Era Baptistery at Oued Ramel, Tunisia"

Closing Prayer

We thank you, heavenly Father, that you have delivered us from the dominion of sin and death and brought us into the kingdom of your Son; and we pray that, as by his death he has recalled us to life, so by his love he may raise us to eternal joys; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.