May 2021
“May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”
Saint Paul. Gal. 6:14
Josiah, not even three years old, (not the king in the Bible. II King 21:24) our great-grandson, with a loud voice calls, “Mommy, mommy come and look, there is a cross in the moon.” Michela was perplexed while approaching the window where Josiah was gazing at the sky, whispers to herself, “cross in the moon?” what did he see now. Well, that’s for sure, never seen it before, she looks up and to her surprise, she sees the cross in the moon. Michela instantly grabs her camera and takes the picture; Enclosed.
May 2nd the Armenian Apostolic church celebrated the feast of the of “Apparition of the Cross,” (Yerevman Khach) You may have heard the story but allow me to refresh your memory.
On May 7th in the year 351, those living in Jerusalem witnessed an intensely illumined cross appear in the sky extending from Golgotha to the Mount of Olives; a span of almost two miles. As it remained visible for several hours, the population of Jerusalem assembled in the church to praise Jesus Christ for the miraculous sign, but this apparition not only affected the locals. St. Cyril the Bishop of Jerusalem wrote about the miracle in a letter to the Emperor Constantius of Constantinople who at the time, believed in the Arian heresy which denies Jesus is God and claims He was a created being, subordinate to God the Father. Upon reading the letter, Emperor Constantius was deeply moved and returned to the orthodox teaching of the Church that Jesus is God, equal in nature to the Father.
THE CROSS
The Cross has been a very common artifact (Zartarank) to wear or to give it as a gift. We cross ourselves, we kiss the cross and we bow down in front of the cross. I have made a custom, when I visit the sick in the hospital or visit nursing homes, I leave a wooden hand carved cross made in Armenia, and tell the recipient, “Every time when you look at the cross remember, that God loves you.” (I would like each of you to have one FREE OF CHARGE. Please call or write to me to personally request one and I will gladly mail it to you).
The early Christians were persecuted for their faith when they met each other in the street, to witness their faith secretly, greeted each other by crossing themselves. Incidentally, during the Roman Empire, the cross was like an electric chair, the criminals were hung on the cross for their crimes committed. “For it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.’” (Gal. 3:13) If something that was used for criminals, how can then Paul write to the Galatian church saying, “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world.” (Gal.6:14)
It is the human nature to boast and be proud for what we have, what we have achieved, possess, and for our status, but to boast “in the cross” in electric chair? What made the cursed tool to become a blessed icon, which made Paul to say, “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” That is to say, I do not value anything in my life to brag about except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. To one-point Paul says: “I consider them (whatever is voluble to me) garbage.” (Phil.3:8)
AT THE CROSS WE SEE THE LOVE OF GOD.
Jesus was not hung on the cross for His crime or sin, which He did not commit, but as Isiah, some 700 years before the crucifixion, wrote: “But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed.” (Is.53:5) and Paul affirmed by saying, “God demonstrated His own love for us in this. while we still sinners, Christ dies for us.” (Rom. 5:8) The Bible tells us that we ALL are sinners and have come short of the glory of God. (Rom. 3:23) You don’t have to kill or rob someone in order to be called “sinner.” We were born sinners. Even Paul for himself says, “This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all.” (I Tim. 1:15)
THE LOVE OF GOD COMPELLED HIM TO SEND HIS SON JESUS, TO BE CRUCIFIED ON THE CROSS, IN ORDER TO SECURE OUR SALVATION TO AND RECONCILE US WITH THE FATHER.
Because of our sinful nature, we are enemies with God. Paul writes, “Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death [on the cross] to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation.” (Col. 1:21-22) I can picture Jesus stretching His arms on the cross, one hand reaching to His Father’s hand and the other to the us as he begs us to confess our sins and be reconciled with the Father. Saint Paul describes it nicely, “And in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility.” (Eph. 2:16)
THE LOVE OF GOD ALLOWED HIS SON TO BE NAILED ON THE CROSS INORDER FOR US TO INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE.
None of us are worthy to inherit the eternal life. Paul says: “Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived:” (I Cor. 6:9) John says, “Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” (Rev. 21:27)
During the Great Lent we sing, “We bow down before your cross, O Christ, and we magnify your holy betrayal, and we glorify your holy sufferings; come, O you faithful, let us bow down to Christ our God, for he came and through His cross He granted gifts to the world; Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, who was betrayed for us, have mercy upon us.”
Isaac Watts writes: “When I survey the wondrous cross, on which the Prince of glory died
My richest gain I count but loss and pour contempt on all my pride.
My friend, now that I briefly presented to you the reason Jesus had to be crucified on the cross, I hope and pray that from this point on when you look at the cross, or when you cross yourself, you remember how much God loved you and gave His Son Jesus to be crucified on the cross, and how much Jesus loved you and willingly came down, incarnated and willingly submitted Himself to the cross in order for you and me to be with Him forever.
Now you know why Paul said: “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world.” (Gal.6:14)
Rev. Fr. Archpriest Aram Stepanian
P.S. Ask for your wooden carved cross. It is FREE. Click HERE.
P.P.S. 11th Summer Camp preparation is underway, details to follow. Please pray.
Josiah pointing out the cross in the moon