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The Discovery of the Holy Cross

September 15, 2019
in The Word
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Happy feast of discovery of the Holy Cross. We thank Him because the sign of the cross was before a curse – the Old Testament said that those who are cursed are hung on wood, trees, and crosses. Jesus, by his mercy, transformed this sign so it is now a blessing. It is a sign of protection, our faith, something we are very proud of. Because Jesus was able to crush the head of the evil one.

We thank Him for this beautiful feast we always celebrate on September 14. And, at the same time, when we celebrate this beautiful day three ways: 1) the discovery of the wood of cross 2) we celebrate the discovery of the wood of the cross in Jerusalem which was hidden in the garbage, and 3) the wood of the Holy Cross was once stolen by the Persian king, who later returned that cross on the date of September 14.

And also, we look to this as the instrument of our salvation. It is not a piece of wood, but we look it as a sign of salvation and blessing for all of us.

Throughout history, and even in the church history, we know everything is blessed by the sign of the cross. And when we do the liturgy, blessing the bread and the wine, and in baptisms, we do the sign of the cross. And the demon possessed are cleansed by the sign of the cross. So, the cross has power!

As it says in 1 Corinthians 1:18: “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”

By shedding His blood, Jesus made it a blessing and instrument of our salvation.

But a lot of us only use the cross as a decoration, not a sign of their faith. If we don’t focus on the cross, and look at it carefully and faithfully, we won’t receive it. We won’t have peace and comfort.

Jesus blessed it and made it as a weapon to fight against the evil one, all the temptation we go through, and everything that bothers us spiritually.

I learned something very valuable from an old monk. He said:

  • Wherever you sleep away from home. Close the door behind you and make the sign of the cross over the door.
  • When you are in your car, make the cross.
  • You have a new baby, make the cross.
  • You have a new home, make the cross. Invite clergy to your home to make the cross.
  • When you wake up, sign the cross over yourself.

When we sign the cross, we tell the evil one: You have no place with us.

Learn more in Father Andrew’s sermon video here.

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