Acrossthe Pastor's Desk - September 2008

On Sunday, September 14, many within the Christian community celebrated the lesser festival, Holy Cross Day. This day dates back to the dedication of the basilica of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem in 335 C.E. Though certainly long a part of the life of the Church the cross and its day of celebration has always been a bit of a conundrum and a paradox .

In the earliest days of Christianity not much notice or prominence was given to the cross. On the one hand believers were fearful in some locations of outright persecution if it was known that they were followers of Jesus. On the other hand there was a certain amount of embarrassment in trying explain to the world why these believers were willing followers of someone whom had been crucified as a common criminal. Difficult indeed to express how that death had brought the gift of salvation for the sake of the whole world. It was easier to relegate the cross to the background and allow the witness to the empty tomb and the resurrection to take center stage.

Later the cross was given a prominent place in worship buildings and the life of the Church, frequently decorated in jewels and fine metals as the throne of Christ. Then the figure of the risen Christ was added and in the middle ages the figure of the suffering Christ was displayed on the cross as there was a growing emphasis on the mystery of the passion. Following the Reformation the cross was again quite simple in appearance for many and many Protestants gave up making the sign of the cross altogether because of a lack of understanding of what the Reformation was itself about.

Today it would seem that some Christians have come full circle and the cross is not displayed in many new church facilities. The explanation that has been given that the cross seems to be too harsh a symbol and persons new to the faith might be put off because of it. The question that must be asked of Christians is what kind of faith will be theirs if the cross is not a central part of it. Perhaps it is not really new people of faith that would find the cross difficult to appreciate. Perhaps it is the current members of the community who find it too challenging and would rather do without it.

Jesus did not only die on the cross for the sake of the world. Jesus also invited his followers to take up their crosses and to follow him. To do is to proclaim to the world the love that God has showered upon everyone in real and concrete ways just as the Savior did. For the faithful the cross is to be celebrated not on just one day but everyday. Lifted high it announces a new day for all of God's creation.