His Eminence Metropolitan Nicolae of the Americas emphasised that the Exaltation of the Holy Cross offers an “opportunity to reflect on our own understanding of the world and of our Christian life”.
Beginning with the historical significance of the feast, linked to Empress Helen’s discovery of the Holy Cross and its display to the people by Patriarch Macarius of Jerusalem, His Eminence described in an online meditation its importance for the Church.
“The feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross was established to commemorate and honour an event in the history of salvation connected precisely with the precious Cross of Christ the Saviour.”
The Romanian Orthodox Metropolitan of the Americas also explained that Christ’s command that each person take up their cross entails self-denial and orienting one’s entire existence towards God: “Christ Himself calls us to take up the Cross.”
“To lay down our life for Christ and the Gospel means to follow Christ and not to regard our life as something to be grasped, as though it had value in itself in the absence of God,” His Eminence noted.
Taking upon ourselves the call to follow Christ
Metropolitan Nicolae explained that the true value of the human person is revealed in relationship with God, while human qualities and endeavours acquire meaning when placed at the service of the truth of the Gospel.
“Our being is light when it abides in the true light, in the light of God. Our existence has value when the love of God shines through it.”
“We cannot acquire this light and value through our own merit, but through giving ourselves to God, by placing our efforts and qualities at the service of proclaiming God’s truth: the Incarnation of the Son, the event revealed by the Gospel,” His Eminence added.
The Metropolitan also highlighted the fundamental choice involved in Christian life.
“The mystery of Christian living consists in choosing between two tendencies: between regarding our soul as something to be grasped and giving it to God so that we may receive it back adorned.”
In conclusion, Metropolitan Nicolae proposed two questions to accompany the faithful throughout the new Church Year: “Why was the Son of God lifted up on the Cross, and what does this exaltation mean for me?”
The answer, His Eminence emphasised, can lead to “good progress in faith, hope and love”.
Photo: BASILICA archive / Mircea Florescu
