This Sept 14 is a feast day in the Catholic Church. What does this feast day have as a message for all Christians, Catholic and Protestant?
From The Catholic News Agency:
“The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, celebrated every year on September 14, celebrates two historical events: the discovery of the True Cross by Saint Helena, the mother of the Emperor Constantine, in 320 under the temple of Venus in Jerusalem, and the dedication in 335 of the basilica and shrine built on Calvary by Constantine, which mark the site of the Crucifixion.”
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“However, The feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, more than anything else, is a celebration and commemoration of God’s greatest work: his salvific death on the Cross and His Resurrection, through which death was defeated and the doors to Heaven opened.”
That’s the background of a feast day being celebrated this month. What it has as a message for all Christians, Catholic and Protestant, is the overcoming of the finality of death. Other religions can value it as well… for its a common human condition that we all are going to die. Our time on Earth is limited. Knowing this can be very defeating unless you believe there is more after being put into the ground.
What is this something more?
For Christians it is a life after death. What matters is not so much the finite amount of time we have on Earth, but rather how we live that time. If we accept Christ as our Saviour, then what he has done on the Cross conquers death. We rise to new life after death.
But beyond being an “escape hatch” out of death, there is really something deeper going on. The life in Christ that we live, united with him in his work of salvation on the cross, is truly a richer, deeper and more fulfilling life. A life worth living and full of wonders, blessings, joy and peace… a peace that passes all understanding.
We all know how the story ends… no one gets out of here alive. But… a life united with the Cross of Christ empowers us to live a life that has no fear. No fear of death, no fear of what powers beyond our control can do to us. We see many powers trying to control us through fear… but we are free. We have no fear because we fear no death. This frees us to do what we know is right and just. This truly is our freedom… freedom based on our trust in the power of the Cross.
What is this something more?
For Christians it is a life after death. What matters is not so much the finite amount of time we have on Earth, but rather how we live that time. If we accept Christ as our Saviour, then what he has done on the Cross conquers death. We rise to new life after death.
But beyond being an “escape hatch” out of death, there is really something deeper going on. The life in Christ that we live, united with him in his work of salvation on the cross, is truly a richer, deeper and more fulfilling life. A life worth living and full of wonders, blessings, joy and peace… a peace that passes all understanding.
We all know how the story ends… no one gets out of here alive. But… a life united with the Cross of Christ empowers us to live a life that has no fear. No fear of death, no fear of what powers beyond our control can do to us. We see many powers trying to control us through fear… but we are free. We have no fear because we fear no death. This frees us to do what we know is right and just. This truly is our freedom… freedom based on our trust in the power of the Cross.