Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Today is the observance of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. It is celebrated on September 14 or the second Sunday of September since the 7th century, inspired by the recovery of a portion of the Holy Cross, said to have been taken from Jerusalem.

The Persian army, following a fight, took the cross of our Lord in 614 AD.

For all Christians, the cross is a sign of resurrection, hope. Freedom everyone in the Christian world tried to have it returned. In 628, the Roman emperor Heracles I, having with him a legion of Armenian soldiers, reached Persia, fought them and brought the holy cross back to Jerusalem by passing through all of Armenia and reached the Holy Land.

  Armenian soldiers were honored to carry it through our homeland. Throughout centuries, pieces of the Holy Cross were broken apart, to pass throughout the Christian world.  A piece reached the Mother See, Etchmiazeen and there is also a piece in Jerusalem at the Armenian Patriarchate.

 Pilgrimages are made each year to show respect to that symbol of our Lord’s salvation and love.

“I waited patiently for the Lord’s help. Then he listened to me and heard my cry.”

Psalm 40:1 

Today is the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and I choose Patience as the sermon’s subject.  Patience is the lesson that is taken from the Holy Cross.

To be patient means to trust God. Wait for God, because his timing and planning is perfect. When we look at an object, it is from one dimension, we only see the one part of it.  But God looks from Heaven and sees the whole picture. He is more patient and wants teach us to be like him.

When we are not able to see the whole picture ourselves, we become impatient. We are tired of waiting and confused about how things are going…not like we planned. When we are impatient, we cannot reap the harvest or the fruit of life. Like in the winter, when there is no harvest and trees do not bear fruit because it is not the right time.

Let’s learn from seeds.  Even the smallest seeds, with God’s will, are patient, lying on the soil and waiting for the season of spring, to come to life.  Even though the faithful know that patience is a virtue, but very few of us want to be patient.  We believe that is what God wants of us.  We pray for patience. We beg God to give us the understanding and patience; but we ask for it in our own way…like in this story.

A man was praying to God. “Dear God, please, I’m asking you for patience. Give me patience. I need patience…and I want it NOW!”

Why are we impatient? As we said, it is because we cannot see the whole picture of life.  When we stand behind a tree, the forest is not visible and of course, we cannot see the whole forest.

Sometimes, we think we deserve something in our life. But, we don’t get it. And we become impatient, expecting it. Humans think that as a man, we have control over almost everything. But, of course, there are things that are not under our control.  That is another reason for being impatient.

Jesus teaches us to learn, first of all, to control ourselves, our desires, our wishes. Let’s ask…how?  The Lord answers “Take your cross and follow me.”  If anything is holding you back from following Jesus, let that thing go…we don’t need it.  We should move forward without turning back.

Do you remember the story of Lot’s wife? They were escaping from Sodom & Gomorra and she turned back and became a pillar of salt. So, never turn back. 

Don’t leave your cross.  Don’t deny your destiny. Patiently walk after Jesus.

Now, we can ask…as human curiosity?  As Jesus said, if we do all that is expected, do we get what we want?

Yes, but, remember we should want and pray only what we need…really need.  What we need most is the Heavenly Kingdom, God’s justice, forgiveness, peace and love.  Patience will show us all these things.

Patience is a spiritual education…from that we learn how to turn our attention from what we are waiting or wishing for toward the good things that God has blessed us with already.  Enjoy your blessings and be happy with what you have.  We have each other, as God’s children, brothers, sisters…and this is such an amazing gift. Unfortunately, we only value such things when we lose them.  So, don’t lose your patience and your sight of God’s gifts. Let’s be thankful for what we all have.

 fr Z