Feast of the Cross in the Ancient Faith预览

Day 3: The Power of the Cross in Our Daily Lives

On this third day, we turn to the personal dimension of the Cross in our spiritual journey. In Galatians 2:20, St. Paul proclaims: "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." The Cross is not merely a historical event or theological concept, but it is a living reality that transforms our daily existence.

St. Isaac the Syrian teaches us in his work, The Ascetical Homilies: "The way of the cross is an inner journey. Those who follow it must be ready to endure all things with joy for the love of God." This journey involves daily self-denial, as our Lord commanded: "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me" (Luke 9:23).

In Coptic Orthodox spirituality, we make the sign of the Cross frequently; before prayer, when entering the church, before meals, and in moments of temptation, gratitude and danger. There is no wrong time to do the sign of the Cross because it is a power that spares and helps us. The physical gesture reminds us to crucify our passions and align our will with God's. Through this simple yet deep-rooted action, we invoke the power of the Cross to sanctify every aspect of our lives. It is by the Cross of Christ that He “disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it” (Colossians 2:15)

St. Cyril of Jerusalem, writes in Catechetical Lecture 13, paragraph 36: "We make the sign of the Cross upon our brows and all that is ours; on the gates and doors of our houses; on walls and windows; in our sleeping and waking, in sitting down and rising up, in going out and coming in. It is our ward and guard and armor; a standard and a trophy and a sword."

The power of the Cross extends into our struggles against sin and temptation. The desert fathers taught that when assailed by evil thoughts, making the sign of the Cross and invoking the name of Jesus drives away the enemy. As St. Athanasius of Alexandria affirms in his "Life of St. Anthony," the demons "fear the sign of the Lord's Cross, because it was through the Cross that the Savior stripped them of their power and exposed their deception."

During the third Sunday of the Holy Great Fast, the readings and hymns of the day shift our focus from the austerity of fasting to the hope and strength found in a story foreshadowing the Cross. The Gospel reading for that Sunday comes from John 4, the story of the Samaritan woman, which reminds us that the living water Christ offers flows most abundantly from His side pierced on the Cross.

The placement of this reading in the middle of our Lenten journey is significant. Like travelers crossing a desert, we may grow weary in our ascetic struggles. The reminder of the Cross at this midpoint becomes an oasis of spiritual refreshment, encouraging us to persevere in our journey toward Pascha. It reminds us that our fasting and prayer are not ends in themselves but means to draw us closer to the crucified and risen Lord.

The Cross in our daily lives means bearing burdens with grace, forgiving those who wrong us, and choosing love over hatred and bitterness. When we endure personal sufferings, whether illness, loss, rejection, or failure, we have the opportunity to unite these trials with Christ's suffering on the Cross, transforming them into paths to spiritual growth and communion with God.

Thrice-Blessed Pope Shenouda III of Blessed Memory often taught that "the Cross means love and sacrifice." It challenges us to move beyond self-interest and embrace a life of service and self-giving. Each act of sacrificial love, no matter how small, participates in the mystery of the Cross and reveals its power in our world today.

As we reflect on the power of the Cross in our daily lives, let us ask ourselves: How am I taking up my cross today? Am I embracing my challenges as opportunities for growth and grace? Do I see my sufferings as isolation from God or as an invitation to deeper union with Christ? May we find in the Cross not a burden too heavy to bear but the very power of God transforming our weakness into strength.

Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, who endured the Cross for our salvation, grant us strength to take up our cross daily. May the power of Your Cross drive away every evil from our lives and fill us with Your divine grace. Through the sign of the precious Cross, protect our bodies, souls, and spirits from all harm. Amen.