Dear Friends and Parishioners of Saint James' Church Texarkana:
Last Sunday, during the celebration of Holy Cross Day, I mentioned two miracles associated with the discovery of the Cross by St. Helena. One was the story of a blind woman who was asked to kiss each of the three crosses, and the identity of the True Cross was confirmed through her recovery of sight. This brings to mind Luke 4:18 where Jesus reads from Isaiah 61, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” It is also reminiscent of the healings of the Man Born Blind and Bartimaeus at Jericho.
Jesus’ earthly ministry also included the raising of the dead. We know the story of Lazarus and the raising of Jairus’ Daughter. It comes as no surprise, then, that Holy Tradition would record a similar story of a man being raised from the dead through contact with the Holy Rood.
We are not required to believe the accounts recorded in Holy Tradition, but they are illustrative of the Christian life. It is the work of Christ on his Cross that saves and redeems us from sin and death. Through Christ’s work upon it, and his resurrection, the Cross is truly life giving for all who believe and receive him. As we are redeemed and restored in Christ we have the eyes of our soul opened to see the work of God in the world around us. We are no longer blind, but see the world as it really is, filled with the energy and grace of God.
Which reminds me of a line from a beloved hymn, “I once was lost but now am found, was blind, but now I see”.
Blessings,
The Rev'd David J. Halt, SSC,
Rector
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