September 16

The Tree Of The Cross

Preparation. - As we have previously meditated on the exaltation of the holy Cross, let us now exclaim with the Church: “How beautiful and bright art thou, O tree adorned with the purple of the King!” We shall consider the tree of the Cross, first, as a tree of hope, and secondly, as a tree of life. Then we shall resolve daily to gather from it the fruit of virtues, especially humility, confidence and patience, the fruits that nourished so many saints devoted to the Cross of Jesus. “Beautiful and resplendent tree, adorned with the purple of the King.”

I. The Cross, A Tree Of Hope

One day in a sentiment of humility and confidence, St. John the Silent made a small opening in the rock, against which he had built his cell, and placed therein a few fig-seeds, saying: “I shall know that God will cover me with His mercy, if He deigns to cause this seed to grow.” Some time after a beautiful fig-tree arose miraculously out of the rock and covered the cell of the saint and furnished him with its fruit. Then weeping with joy, the happy solitary recognized by that sign the divine mercy resting over him.

We who have seen rising from the rock of Calvary the bloody tree of the Cross as a pledge of pardon, cannot entertain any doubt as to the remission of our sins, if we truly repent of them. Let us, then, banish from our heart all feelings of diffidence when we gaze at the sacred wood, for by its means the Lord’s “mercy is confirmed upon us” (Ps. 116. 2).

The Israelites, being unable to bear the bitterness of the waters of Mara, Moses, by the Lord’s order, cast therein some branches of a certain tree growing there, and the waters became fit for drinking (Exod. 15. 23-25). How often the tribulations that befall us, make our life bitter and unbearable. Instead of getting discouraged on that account, let us gather a few branches from the tree on which Jesus died, that is, let us look at the cross and bear in mind the Saviour’s goodness, patience and sufferings, and we shall soon look upon our troubles as signs and presents of His tender love for us.

Eve, gazing at the fruit of the tree of knowledge and gathering it contrary to God’s prohibition, unfortunately precipitated us into every evil; we, on the contrary, shall find all goods by contemplating Jesus on the Cross, and asking of Him the graces of sanctification, of which His merits are the source. He Himself gives us the example of every virtue, and helps us to practice them, when we pray to Him for this with confidence and perseverance.

O Jesus crucified, I purpose often to meditate on Thy sorrowful Passion in the hope of obtaining from Thee the pardon of my sins, resignation in suffering and the courage to labor efficaciously at my sanctification. With these dispositions I will find my delight in resting under the shade of Thy Cross, so as to enjoy there by means of mental prayer, the fruits of mercy that are to purify and strengthen my soul and adorn her with virtues. “I sat down under His shadow, whom I desired; and His fruit was sweet to my palate” (Cant. 2. 3).

II. The Cross, The Tree Of Life

In the earthly paradise there was a tree, whose fruits preserved from death those who ate of them. Hence, when expelling our first parents from Eden, God said: “Lest perhaps Adam put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat and live forever.” Hence “He placed before the paradise of pleasure Cherubim and a flaming sword turning every way, to keep the way of the tree of life” (Gen, 3. 22, 24).

But now that a new tree of life has been planted on Calvary, God no longer forbids us to approach it and take therefrom fruits of immortality. On the contrary, from His Cross Jesus expiring says to us: “I am the vine, you are the branches. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abide in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in Me. He that abideth in Me and I in him, the same beareth much fruit (John 14. 4-7).

These words of Christ are verified especially in the Sacrament of the altar, in which the sacrifice of Calvary is daily renewed. We participate especially in this sacrifice by sacramental Communion, which unites us to the God-Man most intimately, and imparts abundantly to us the fruits of the Redemption. It particularly strengthens in us the life of grace, which is superior to every created nature, since it is a participation of the uncreated Nature. Shall we, who are called to such a life by the sufferings and death of a divine Person, hesitate to correspond with so sublime a vocation? When we see Jesus nailed to an infamous gibbet and shedding His precious blood to cure us of our vices and to restore our souls to perfect health, should we not desire to lead here below with Him a life of sacrifice, obedience, charity and devotedness, so as daily to increase in us His supernatural and divine life?

“O holy Cross, the only noble tree; no wood has ever borne fruit like unto that hanging from Thy bloody branches. In thee all is sweet, the nails, the wood and the weight it sustains.” The nails and the wood remind us of the torments of Him who suffered in our stead, and thereby preserved us from everlasting misery. Attached with nails to that wood, our Saviour is that delicious fruit, which in the Eucharist imparts to us the supernatural life which will make us worthy of the blissful immortality.

My dearest Redeemer, the mystical vine, keep me ever united to Thee, and enable me to draw from Thy sacred wounds the spiritual sap which will strengthen my heart and daily raise it higher from grace to grace, from virtue to virtue. And thou, O Mother of sorrows, standing at the foot of the Cross, repair in me the ravages wrought by the fall of unfortunate Eve, and prepare me to receive in holy Communion the fruit of life which is to strengthen my soul for endless bliss.