The Feat of the Holy Cross

September 14, 2025

As we know the first symbol of Christianity was not a cross, but a fish. Perhaps it was the fish when the first disciples were called, or the fish at the feeding of the multitude, or the fish on the shore in Galilee after the resurrection. The cross on the other hand was just to awful to consider.

But the Cross and Jesus' death on it has come to be the most recognizable symbol of the Christian. In a way it tells the story of what Jesus came into this world to do. He came to show us the Father, and to accept into himself all that was human, even the worst, sin, though he himself did not sin. 

By doing this, Jesus glorified not only the hated symbol of the Cross of Roman execution, but our very existence as human beings. By the death on the Cross, each human being is raised to be a son or daughter of Jesus' Father. The celebrant prays every day at the offertory: “By the mystery of this water and wine may we come to share in the divinity of Christ who so humbled himself to share in our humanity.”

In a way we are reconnected this Sunday with last Sunday ‘s gospel from St. Luke's gospel when Jesus says: “If anyone comes to me without hating is [parents]...whoever does not carry his or her cross...anyone who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.” It is this Cross that we are celebrating today.

The Cross is now our most powerful symbol. It is a summary of the mystery of our redemption and our new life. Instead of shame, it is now a royal banner.“A Single act of love makes the soul return to life. Let us often make use of this means.” as St. Maximilian Kolbe wrote.

It also brings us back to the observation of Dietrich Bonhoeffer:“Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.” 

The Cross is not an emblem of shame which as we saw earlier that the first Christians had to work through themselves. No, it is extravagant show of love. As John says in today’s gospel: “God so loved the world that he gave is only Son, so that everyone who believes in him...will have eternal life.” But this love is like any love, it costs; just ask any parent, spouse, religious or priest. Bonhoeffer observed: “Salvation is free, but discipleship will cost you your life.” Our discipleship is built on the love that is symbolized by the cross, the Holy Cross.

Fr. John Tran