DAY 183
Faith in the Midst of a Pandemic
A series of daily reflections for people of faith
by Rev. Robert Bayley, Interim Pastor
Patuxent Presbyterian Church, California, Maryland
pastorrobert@paxpres.org
Week Twenty-seven Sunday 13 September 2020
Holy Cross Sunday
“High upon the Cross”
Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ was lifted high upon the cross that he might draw the whole world to himself: Mercifully grant that we, who glory in the mystery of our redemption, may have grace to take up our cross and follow him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. The Book of Common Prayer: Prayer for Holy Cross Sunday
“That’s Catholic,” she said, as a response to the use of the sign of the cross at the end of the benediction each Sunday in the Presbyterian church where I was serving. As we chatted, she began to realize that the cross belonged to no one part of the Body of Christ but rather to all of the Body of Christ, not to the church Catholic (Roman) but to the church catholic, universal.
We who are Protestants trace ourselves back to the Reformation but we really go back to the Day of Pentecost, the beginning of the church, and everything that has happened from that day forward is the shared history of all Christians, including the use of the sign of the cross.
“Always try to make the sign of the cross on your forehead as well as you can. The sign of the passion is of proven efficacy against the Devil, provided that you make it at the prompting of your faith…Let us make the sign of the cross on our foreheads and on our eyes, to drive away him who is bent on our destruction.” Hippolytus, 170-235 AD, early church theologian
Today the western church (Roman Catholic), the eastern church (Orthodox), Lutherans, Anglicans and Episcopalians regularly use the sign of the cross as do some Methodists and Presbyterians. The Book of Common Worship of the Presbyterian Church (USA) indicates the use of the sign of the cross in receiving new members, ordaining officers, baptism and in anointing the sick in the Service for Wholeness. Try it out, using the sign of the cross in your own times of prayer.
Reflective question: When you place the sign of the cross on yourself, what does it say to you?
Reflective Scripture: 1 Peter 2:24 – “…he himself bore our sins in his body on the cross,…”
Reflective hymn:
“Lift High the Cross” – George Kitchen (1827-1912)
O Lord, once lifted on this glorious tree,
As Thou hast promised, draw men unto Thee.
Lift high the cross; the love of Christ proclaim,
Till all the world adore His sacred Name.
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