The Exaltation of the Holy Cross
This Thursday we celebrate the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. St. Helen, mother of the Emperor Constantine undertook a pilgrimage to Jerusalem in hopes of finding the true cross. Each year, we celebrate the finding of the true cross and venerate it due to the redemption won for us by Jesus' death on it.
I've (Beth) known this story since I was a child, but it wasn't until recently that I really thought about what it would have been like to go on pilgrimage in the fourth century. St. Helen didn't fly to Jerusalem, she didn't stay in nice air conditioned hotels. And sure she probably had it better than the average pilgrim being the mother of the emperor, but it wasn't an easy trip. There was inherent danger in the trip. It would have been easier for her to stay home and send someone else in her place to do the work!
What lengths are we willing to go to in order to leave our comfort zone and proclaim the Word of God? How do we search for God and the work He's doing in our lives? Do we avoid doing the hard work because it's hard? Take courage! Be like St. Helen in search of the truth God is showing us in our daily lives.