Triumph of the Cross
theophilus September 14th, 2008
Today is the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross. It’s a good day to think about whether we have, at times, taken the Cross for granted.
I see crosses all around; sometimes displayed with devotion, other times not. The focus of every Catholic Church is on the Crucifix behind the altar. Catholic churches used to be laid out in the form of a cross.
So, do we look with reverence and devotion upon the Cross and Christ crucified, or has he just kind of blended in with the rest of the church? Have we allowed the Cross to become just another part of the scenery for us? It’s our loss if we have done so.
The Crucifix is the essence of our faith; it is the symbol of what binds us together as Catholics. The cross is the symbol of what binds us together with other Christians.
No matter where we go in the world, we can look upon the Crucifix and the Cross and know we are gazing upon the same Christ, the same source of salvation. We know that we can lay our cares, our sins, and our lives before the Cross; and Christ will be there to lift us up in the arms of his divine majesty.
And we know that we can look upon others who we encounter who show the cross or who carry the Rosary, and know that by the Cross, we do not walk alone; there are others walking with us. We can walk into a home with a Crucifix or a cross and know that we share a special bond with those who live there.
Today, let us look with a new devotion upon the Crucifix in our homes, on our Rosaries, behind the altar. Let us look at Christ crucified and truly contemplate the source of our salvation and the unity that we share.
Christ became triumphant on the Cross; it is up to us to want to share in this triumph.
