The Triumph of the Cross
Rev. Kieran Kilcommons
September 14th is a highlight in our Church year. In the Eastern Church it is the beginning of the Church year. In the West it is our remembrance, in between the great feasts of Christmas and Easter, of the Triumph of the Cross; lest we forget. And we do tend to forget.
The Triumph of the Cross is one of my favourite feasts in the Church. Christmas is filled with tenderness and joy and wonderment; Easter is the pinnacle of our faith and is celebrated with three days leading up to it and then Easter day is eight days; eight days which we call one day.
What a mystery. But almost at midpoint is this celebration of something that is central to every day of the Christian life, the Cross, the cross of Christ and my cross.
“Take up your cross and follow me,” says the Lord. And again, “Whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.”
Catherine Doherty the foundress of our community of Madonna House said that she was born in the shadow of the cross. And this cross, a life of trials and challenges, was part of her Christian life. She often spoke of the cross and her view, sight, understanding, fervour, love and desire for Christ’s cross permeated the mentality of the community.
Maybe that is why I love this feast. Because Christ and Catherine talked about it as something indispensable and glorious. Indeed they are not the only ones. Saints down through the ages talk about the glory of the cross and how it transforms everything. The greatest transformation we see of course is that Jesus went from the cross to resurrection. There is hope in that. Because when he said, “Follow me” he was not saying, “Join me in a life of suffering and that will be all, thank you very much.” No, he said, “I am going to prepare a place for you that you too can be with me” and with my Father.
I have noticed that life in community has its share of crosses. But I have learned that when I take up my cross I am not carrying my burdens all alone. I am accompanied by community members. And I am often called, by the Lord, to help carry the cross of another.
Our Little Mandate of Madonna House says, “take up my cross, their cross..” In all of this weight I am reminded and comforted by St. Paul who said, “Christ in you, your hope of glory.” No matter my burden it is in union with the Lord, and I think he carries more of it than I do. “To destroy the power of hell Christ died upon the cross, clothed in strength and glory, he triumphed over death.” (Sept 14, morning prayer, ant. 1; vol. 4 of the Breviary) And so too for us when our Cross is lived out in Christ it is truly Triumphant.
Rev. Kieran Kilcommons, Madonna House, Robin Hood’s Bay.
Previous Months Letters from Madonna House
August 2024: Jesus and the Little Girl By Carol Ann Gieske
July 2024: Dont Forget to take Jesus Home By Jeanne Guillemette
June 2024: Living Under Mary’s Mantle By Fr. Michael Weitl
May 2024: Vocation & Journey in Christ’ By Mathieu Dacquay
April 2024: Christ Lives! By Carol Ann Gieske
March 2024: Putting everything ‘on the altar’ By Jeanne Guillemette
February 2024: Finding Peace in Surrender to Christ By Mathieu Dacquay
January 2024: Celebrating Epiphany with the Christian east By Fr. Michael Weitl
December 2023: Journeying through Advent with Joseph By Carol Ann Gieske
November 2023: The Saints Are Alive By Jeanne Guillemette
October 2023: Ordinary Miracles By Mathieu Dacquay