Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Three realities: the cross, the anointing of the sick, and the community that celebrates both.  Cross… Anointing… Community.  A word on each.

As the years rush by, I am increasingly astounded, shocked, thrilled by the rapturous hymn in Philippians.  Though his status was divine, Jesus did not cling like a miser to the glory he had with God.  He emptied himself.  Instead of seeing in him the glory of God, we see in him our own humanity, our weak, tormented, tear-stained flesh.  We see someone who looked like the Jew he was; learned a trade from his father; wept over Lazarus and Jerusalem; got tired enough to sleep out a storm in a boat; was betrayed and abandoned by his friends; was afraid to die, and died in indescribable agony.  Jesus did not cling to the glory he had with his Father.

Because he was obedient even unto death, Jesus has become Lord of all creation.  Before him every knee must bend.  All must proclaim “Jesus Christ is Lord.”  And because of his obedience unto death, we have come to life again: “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.”  He who was slave is Lord.  Through his death we are free.  Here indeed is the exaltation of the cross.

How link this cross to anointing?  In a moment the church will anoint the sick and infirm.  Each has heard the word about Christ.  They acknowledge that “Jesus is Lord” and believe that “God raised him from the dead.”  The initiative rests with God.  God has spoken, God has called, God has invited.  And those to be anointed have answered yes.  This is a call to holiness and wholeness.  In the context of today’s feast, Paul insists that anointing identifies these parishioners with the dying and rising of Christ.  No, not nails and wood.  And still they die – to all that ails them.  They rise alive with the risen life of Christ.  Here is the triumph of the cross.

But for them to be anointed in Christ is not something you and I just watch.  Anointing incorporates them into the whole Christ.  Together they enter a fresh, unique union with all Christians, with us at Christ Our Hope.  They experience health and wholeness by identifying with a saving community.  This places on each of us a responsibility.  We no longer belong to ourselves.  We belong to Christ and to one another.  “If one member suffers,” Paul proclaims, “all suffer together.  If one member is healed, all rejoice together.”  Their anointing is now linked to the community.  To this community.

Here indeed is the exaltation of the cross.  All who look on this cross with faith will have eternal life.  The cross represents the dying to self needed for fullness of life.  Behold the wood of the cross.  Behold the cross on which hung the Savior of the world.

Paul A. Magnano

Pastor