Armodoxy for Today: The Transformed Cross

St. Cyril of Jerusalem witnessed to the Apparition of the Holy Cross, which lit the sky in the year 351 from the hill of Golgotha to the Mount of Olives. I shared that witness with you yesterday, which described the rays of light being brighter than the sun.

The cross was an instrument of torture and death. The act of crucifixion took place on a cross, where those who were sentenced to death would slowly die of asphyxiation and exhaustion over the course of several hours. The word “torture” finds its meaning in the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, when he was whipped, beaten, physically abused, made to carry his cross up the hill to Golgotha where he was nailed to the cross and mocked as he died a slow death.

Christians celebrate the cross. It’s hard to imagine that anyone would celebrate an instrument of torture and death. Certainly not the rifle from a firing squad, nor an electric chair, gas pellets from the death chamber nor a hypodermic needle delivering deadly toxins to the central nervous system of a prisoner. No. It would be absurd to celebrate these instruments of torture, and certainly we would never hang a replica around our neck, nor adorn our houses and spires with them. However, when we Christian point to a cross with joy, wear it around our necks or lapels, or see it as an ornament, we’re doing exactly that – we are celebrating an instrument of torture, with one major difference! Jesus defeated the cross! He resurrected! He beat evil with good, overcame darkness with light and dismissed hatred with pure love. In other words he turned the Cross into a symbol of holiness and victory. It is there that we Christians find an expression of joy.

The Cross which appeared in the sky was brighter than the sun, of course. It could not be anything but brighter. The Cross symbolizes the ultimate victory of Life over death and Jesus is the one who demonstrated that. But I did promise a connection to a bright cross in our world and in our lives today. Tomorrow, we get closer to that reality as the Cross appears in our lives.

Today we pray, O Christ, Redeemer of the world, You took the wood of shame and made it the Tree of Life. Upon the beams meant for torment, You stretched mercy wide, and turned the nails of cruelty into the keys of salvation. May we lift our eyes to that holy sign, and remember that You have changed its meaning forever: from torture to triumph, from despair to deliverance, from death to the radiant victory of life. Amen.