“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.” Luke 9.23
The call of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to each of us
to take up our cross daily is a call to a life of sacrifice and service to
others in the Name of Jesus Christ. It is also a foreign call for us in America
– a society built upon freedom and self-promotion above all others. How can we
reconcile the call of Christ to take up our cross with living in America? This
is a call to martyrdom in a contemporary setting of skyscrapers and internet
cafes.
Each year in September our Church calls our attention to the
Cross of Christ as a symbol of life. The cross has been a source of confusion
for many, and some even refuse to display it because they see only death rather
than life. For us Orthodox Christians it is a sign and source of life. On
September 14th each year the Church celebrates the Elevation of the
Life-Giving Cross found by Saint Helen in 325AD. According to Church history,
Saint Helen, in search of the Cross of Christ, found it lying among debris. It
was found along with two other crosses causing Saint Helen to wonder which the
Life-Giving Cross of our Lord was. Inspired by Saint Makarios, Archbishop of
Jerusalem, a woman at the point of death from disease was nearby. Once the
woman touched the Cross her health was restored, revealing not only that this
was the true Cross of Christ but also revealing its healing powers bestowed by
God. It was in response to this miracle that Saint Makarios elevated the Cross
in the Church for all to see – thus the Feast’s name “Elevation of the
Life-Giving Cross.”
This is the same Cross that Christ asks each of us to take
up daily for Him. We are expected by our Lord to die to the world in order that
we may live with Him in Heaven. “For whoever desires to save his life will lose
it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, will find it,” says the Lord.
(Matthew 16.25) How do we lose our life for Christ in 2012? The answer is simpler
than you might imagine…
To take up our Cross for the Lord is to crucify our will for
His will. Every time we act; every time we think; every time we speak; we are
called upon by God to act, think and speak according to God’s will rather than
our own will. Does God desire for us to bring our tithe (10% Stewardship) to
the Church? (Matthew 23.23) Then we should obey Him. Does God desire for us to care
for the poor and needy? (Matthew 25.35) Then we should obey Him. Does God
desire us to worship Him and pray to Him without ceasing? (1 Thessalonians
5.17) Then we should worship and pray at every opportunity. Does God desire for
us to be reconciled with each other? (Matthew 6.14) Then we should obey Him.
And He expects us to do this DAILY if we want to follow Him to heaven.
Do you want to follow Jesus Christ to heaven? Then obey Him
and take up your cross DAILY and follow Him. Please join us in worship on
Friday, September 14th at 9am for Divine Liturgy in honor of the
Feast of the Elevation of the Life-Giving Cross of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ. It is also a day of strict fasting and prayer.
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