Holy Cross Day

But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.  From now let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

Galatians 6:14,17

Tomorrow marks the church’s annual observance of Holy Cross Day. This celebration is one of the earliest annual celebrations of the church. Holy Cross Day traditionally commemorated the discovery of the original cross of Jesus on September 14, AD 320 in Jerusalem. The cross was said to be found by Helena, mother of Roman Emperor Constantine the Great. It was Constantine who made this festival day official in AD 335.

While we celebrate and commemorate the fact that Helena may have found the original cross of Jesus – we also celebrate the fact that the cross of Christ can be found elsewhere. Where do we find the cross of Christ? Certainly we find the cross in church. We find the cross on many pieces of jewelry and sometimes even on the clothes we wear.

As a matter of fact, the cross can be found anywhere you go because in Baptism you were marked with the cross of Christ! In Baptism the sign of the cross is marked both upon your heart and your forehead to mark you as God’s child in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. While we don’t physically see those marks – by faith we know they are there. God has marked us as His own. Through the cross of Christ – God has made us His for all eternity.

With that in mind, it is no wonder that Paul speaks of boasting only in the cross of Christ. Surely we can boast only in the cross – for only the cross has the power to forgive sins, and only the cross has defeated sin, death, and the power of the devil.

May every cross we see be a reminder of the cross that was marked upon us – making us children of God and heirs with Christ to the riches of heaven for all eternity!