That one extended his hand towards the tree and harvested Death; this one stretched out his hands on the cross and embraced the world; and he declares in the gospels: “when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.”

Many of you reading this will be wearing a piece of jewellery in the shape of the cross, or have a cross somewhere in your home. Aside from the Eucharist the cross is “the” symbol that identifies us sacramental Christians.

We make the sign of the cross, in prayer, in blessing, and as a means of protection. The cross, along with water, and the Eucharist, is one of the most powerful symbols of our faith.

The cross is also an icon of paradox. On the one hand it is the image of death, an instrument of horror, used as much as a means of terror as of execution; on the other hand it is the “tree of life” through which Life himself having embraced our nature championed our cause, liberating us from the darkness that oppressed us.

Because it is such a ubiquitous image in the daily comings and goings of our faith, it is very easy to take for granted this symbol without being mindful of its value in our theology and spirituality. Lent is a traditional time of re-connecting with our praxis, and our theology, it is therefore, fitting that during this season we set aside a day to remember the power and value of the cross in our life of faith.