By Sr. Doreen, SSJD
“Lift high the cross! Sing a new song unto the Lord, all the whole earth. By means of the cross, God has done wonderful things. God’s own power and holy strength have won for us the victory. By Christ’s death on the cross, one is created out of two, one people in union with Christ, this way making peace.” (Julian of Norwich adapted – SSJD introductory responses for Holy Cross Day)
As I pondered the introductory response that we use here at the Convent, I thought, the cross is Christ’s triumph. Hear what he himself also said: When I am lifted up, then I will draw all people to myself.
There are many ways to ponder these triumphant words of Jesus. One of the most meaningful ponderings for me has been to grow in an understanding of the cross as the meeting place of lovers. On the cross we see Love – arms outstretched to embrace everyone and everything. Indeed, on the cross God has done wonderful things, bringing together all that is divided, gathering all into the heart and embrace of God, making peace. The more-than-we-can-ask-or-imagine truth is that our lover God chooses, welcomes, and embraces each and every one of us, and all of creation and the cosmos.
The Cross as a meeting place of lovers is the constant reminder of the struggles in our lives and of God’s love – inclusive, unconditional, and tenacious – that makes possible opportunities to live in and through, to lay down the struggles and see new potential and new life come alive. In Thomas Merton’s book “Seasons of Celebration” he writes:” … the love by which Jesus unites us to himself gives us a profound, sweet and experiential certitude of the union of our lives with his life and with one another in him …”
In a very real sense the cross as a meeting place of lovers moves us into seeing each other and God’s creation in a way that everything we touch and see and use and love gives new strength which is not of our own, but the oneness of the meeting of lovers, God’s love enabling our strength, our joy, our freedom united to our longing and love for God and for each other and all of creation. It is our salvation, our invitation now to live with trust and love towards our good Creator; to be at one with the groundedness of our being. It is an at-one-ment (atonement) a unity. This is the good news, the joy of the cross, the meeting place of lovers – especially so in our world today where, collectively, humanity is estranged or alienated, creation is damaged and hurting. God’s embrace continually holds us now and always in the midst of wherever and whatever we find ourselves in.
My own ponderings moved on to reflect on the SSJD Responsory for the Holy Cross:
“You stretched out your arms on the hard wood of the cross that the whole world may come within your reach, your saving embrace.
How splendid the cross of Christ! It brings life, not death; Light, not darkness; fulfillment, without loss. By means of the cross, Christ unites all people and brings them back to God.
Our mothers bear us for pain and for death,
Our true mother, Jesus, bears us for joy and endless life.
In the greatness of your mercy, we are loosed from our chains, the sins of all people are forgiven.
You overcame the sting of death: and opened the kingdom to all believers.
And when you come in your glory, make us to be the one with you and to share in the life of your kingdom.
You stretched out your arms on the hard wood of the cross that the whole world may come within your reach, your saving embrace.”
In Richard Harries book “Seeing God in Art” he shares a prayer which I have used and adapted freely as my own: We might then pray:
Jesus, crucified and risen, dispel the mist of our self-deception and involvement in the world’s delusions.
Break down all the barriers of pride and self-justification that separate us from you and from one another. We rejoice that in your eyes we matter so much, are of such worth, that you reached out your arms of love on the wood of the cross to embrace us. Help us to reach out our hands of love to you and to each other and move as one with your music now and for ever. Amen.
Perhaps a mantra, a repetitive phrase might be: Jesus, our hope, you stretched out your hands on the cross to embrace all ages of humanity: gather all God’s scattered children and all of creation and the cosmos into the heart of God’s unconditional, tenacious and amazing love of God.
I close with a hymn from Common Praise of the Anglican Church of Canada #537
In the cross of Christ I glory, towering over the wrecks of time; all the light of sacred story gathers around its head sublime.
When the woes of life overtake me, hopes deceive, and fears annoy, never shall the cross forsake me: lo, it glows with peace and joy.
When the sun of bliss is beaming light and light upon my way, from the cross the radiance streaming adds more lustre to the day.
Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure, by the cross are sanctified, peace is there that knows no measure, joys that through all time abide.
In the cross of Christ I glory, towering over the wrecks of time; all the light of sacred story gathers round its head sublime.