We exalt the cross to remember our fellowship with it

[Mary Naeem]

Pope Shenouda III


We exalt the cross to remember our fellowship with it
We remember the words of St. Paul the Apostle: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Gal.2: 20) and “... that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being confirmed to His death” (Phil.3: 10). Here, we ask ourselves: When can we enter into the fellowship of the Lord's sufferings and pray with Him?
We also remember the Penitent Thief who was crucified with the Lord and deserved to be with Him in Paradise. Probably he was singing in Paradise the song of St. Paul: “I have been crucified with Christ”.
Our aspiration is to ascend to the cross with Christ. The cross is our glory whenever it comes into contact with our senses.