By: Catechist Branislav Ilić, Editor of the “Kinonia” Portal
“Come, all peoples, and bow before the blessed Tree, for through it eternal justice has been fulfilled: for the one who deceived our forefather Adam with the tree is now deceived by the Cross, he is overthrown, cast down, and vanquished, for he held the King’s creation in bondage. The serpent’s poison has been washed away by God’s blood, the curse is shattered by the condemnation of the Righteous One, when the Righteous One was unjustly condemned. The tree of the Cross had to heal the tree of Paradise, and through the suffering of the Innocent One on the Cross, the suffering of the condemned (man) was resolved. Therefore, Glory to You, O Christ the King, for Your wise providence for us, by which You have saved all, as good and the Lover of Mankind.” (Glory and now, The Lord I Call, from the service of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy and Life-giving Cross).
This is how the church poet magnifies the Holy and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord, as a symbol of our faith, and the instrument by which we are saved through its power and glory. The Cross and the Resurrection form a unified and inseparable whole. Throughout history, people have wondered how it is that the cross, once an instrument for executing the most notorious criminals, has suddenly become, for us Christians, the manifestation of God’s power, and a true symbol of God’s miraculous presence and His workings in us and among us. In the Church, everything is performed under the sign of the Cross; during worship, we frequently make the sign of the Cross, as we do in all other circumstances. Through this, we not only invoke God’s help, but also receive His grace, strength and blessing. Indeed, our local Church is blessed by the fact that a particle of the Holy and Life-Giving Cross is preserved today in the Cetinje Monastery, which this year celebrates the 540th anniversary of its foundation.
On the Sunday following the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, the Gospel reading tells us about the importance of bearing our cross, which is an integral part of the Christian ethos and life. This Gospel pericope reveals to us the meaning of Christian struggle: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24). Taking up one’s cross, renouncing all sin and impurity, and following the Lord, is the foundation of Christian ascetic life, as revealed to us by the Church. For a person to begin a true Christian life, they must come to Christ, follow Him, and learn from Him, as revealed in the Gospel reading: “Learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29).
But how are we meant to carry our cross? Many holy fathers and teachers of the Church say that we must first and foremost arm ourselves with long-suffering, since long-suffering, according to St. John Climacus, means “preparing oneself for the expectation of daily troubles.” We live in a time of great haste and individualism, which ultimately leads to alienation from others, and very often, from God. Carrying the cross involves the ascetic effort of sacrificial love for all, for everyone who crosses our path. The true concept of love, does not involve merely words, but also a sincere and sacrificial effort, sealed with concrete deeds. Unfortunately, today, the words “I love you” have greatly lost their meaning. They are often uttered lightly, but rarely accompanied with actual deeds. To love someone, always involves effort, a concrete action, and often also rousing from the comfort of our complacent self-sufficiency. God commands us to love, but carrying the cross which is not supported by acts of love does not lead to its fulfillment. Carrying the cross involves a sacrificial effort towards our neighbours. Today’s man seeks ready-made , instant solutions for everything, including the guidelines for spiritual life. We can give our own answer to the question as to whether our cross-bearing rests on firm foundations and whether we are following the right path in life. If we view our life through the lens of the Gospel and its eternal values, if we show true brotherly love to every man, renounce sin and cultivate virtue; if our path to God involves helping others, then our cross-bearing is blessed and fruitful.
Following the Feast of the Exaltation, on September 19/October 2, the Church celebrates the Transfer of the Relics of St. Irenaeus, Confessor of the Faith and a former Bishop of Bačka, and the Holy Martyrs of Bačka. On this day, the faithful and the clergy of the Diocese of Bačka, led by their bishop, gather in celebration of their patron saints. The life and work of St. Irenaeus, Bishop of Bačka, and Confessor of the Faith, is an example of a steadfast and determined bearing of one’s cross. By bearing the cross of his episcopal service, St. Irenaeus steadily bore his own cross, as well as that of his clergy and the faithful he was entrusted with. Serving as a bishop of Christ’s Church in difficult times, he has left us a powerful legacy that there can be no hesitation or refraining from doing the deeds of love and bearing one’s cross, under any circumstances. This newly-canonised saint, even in the most difficult moments of his life, steadfastly carried his cross, praying wholeheartedly for every person, including those who persecuted him and made him suffer. His confession of faith and willingness to lay down his life for the Lord proves that the seed of God’s word found a fertile soil in his heart and soul, bearing much fruit. He was, indeed, a true Christ-like cross-bearer, and also proof that saints are to be found in any age.
Looking up to the example of these saints, and strengthened by the power of the Holy and Life-Giving Cross, let us cast out all sin and impurity from our lives and embrace virtue. Let us pay attention to the people around us, for they are our eternal, God-given brothers and sisters in Christ. Let us remember, that in our lives, there can be no obsolete or insignificant people, for every person is created in the image of God. If we bear our cross rightly and follow Christ, we will overcome all our problems and weaknesses by the power of the Cross. Every act of love we show towards another person is an advance on our cross-bearing path. By following Christ and bearing our cross, we learn to love and do good deeds. May the Risen Lord be our inspiration and an ever-present help in all the days of our lives.
Photo: Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral
Source: Kinonia
