You wouldn't think it could be possible. But look at what's become of St. Valentine's Day. This is the story of a faithful Christian who endured imprisonment and death for the sake of his Savior, which is then expanded and lifted up to the status of a legend, and now is reduced at last to a saccharine Hallmark excuse for selling flowers and candy.

Could we do the same thing when we "lift high the cross"? It's possible, if we do what we did to St. Valentine.

There is nothing wrong with remembering and celebrating the sacrifices of the saints. But the meaning and the origin of Valentine's love has been completely surrendered in the pursuit of nice feelings for ourselves. St. Valentine's tenacious faith brought him to misery, and yet also (if the legend is true) allowed him to enjoy a loving relationship as well. But all that we seek today is the pleasure of a "love life."

We want a "true love" without truth, since we build romance upon pretending to be people we are not. We want a "soul mate" without the soul, since we do not ask our Lord to guide and direct our affairs of the heart. No one expects to suffer or endure anything in order to express their love. And no one expects to "lift high the cross" by carrying any such heavy or painful burden.

Lifting the cross, as Jesus describes it, is truly a victorious act - but not in the way we usually see victory. Lifting the cross, as we often think of it, tends more toward building giant structures, holding up gold encrusted symbols, and marching in powerful procession. But read the words of the verse - not just the chorus.

"Come Christians, follow where our Captain trod..."

I have often complained about a style of Christian art that I call "three crosses on a hill." It's that shallow or cliche'd representation of the faith that fails to challenge or engage the viewer or listener. But we can have the same "three crosses on a hill" in our own lives when we are tempted to call our credit card debt (which we amassed by our love of nice things) the heavy "cross we bear." We reduce Jesus' sacrifice to that insipid "three crosses on a hill" when we complain that our work (by which God gives us our house and food and car and clothing...) is a very heavy burden that God has placed on us.

St. Valentine did not pine away his life writing love notes, filled with self pity like a high school Romeo. The man Valentinus willingly died for the sake of his love for Jesus Christ. THAT is lifting high the cross - when it is Jesus' name that is remembered, and not Valentine's. When it is Jesus' name that is heard, and not ours.