While the four soldiers were lifting up the cross, and fitting its base into the hole they had dug for it, Jesus, dangling by hands and feet, suffered some excruciating jolts.

Friday, 9/14/12

This day is known as the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. It commemorates the day when St. Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine, went to Jerusalem, and found the remains of the cross of Jesus. Part of the true cross has since them been preserved in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

By referring to this as the exaltation of the cross, we are speaking of how it was lifted up in triumph. We match that with stories of how everyone was cured when Moses lifted up the bronze serpent.

For today someone sent me a ten minute camera scan of the naves and crannies of the ancient Church of the Holy Sepulcher, and I found it impressive. Still, on this day I find it good to put aside the impressive and the triumphant aspects of what we commemorate.

Instead, on the feast of the lifting up of the cross, I find it better to put my thoughts on Jesus at the crucifixion.  The cross was flat on the ground when they were putting the spikes through his hands and feet. The four Roman soldiers in one joint effort stood the cross up, then, and with Jesus dangling feet and hands from it, they lodged its base into the hole they had dug for it. Those jolts that  Jesus willing experienced for us are the best things for us to think on today.