THE EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS


Num 21:4-9

John 3:13-17



(IN HOC SIGNO VINCES)-By this Sign, you shall conquer!




Today's feast is the exaltation of the Cross. The exaltation of the Cross is an unbearable language in the eyes of an unbeliever but for the one who believes, it is the treasure-house and the road that leads to eternal life. Ordinarily, it is a cup of suffering but to the one who takes the path in faith, it is dusted with the celestial gold.

Tradition has it that, today's feast is also considered to be the day that St. Helena discovered the true cross of Christ, the dedication of the churches built by Emperor Constantine on Mount Calvary and the Holy Sepulchre, and also the celebration of the return of the Holy Cross to Jerusalem after it had been taken by the Persians. This feast is sometimes called the Triumph of the Cross, but the meaning that is linked to the word “exaltation,” is in order. 




The readings today offer us the true purpose of the cross in the plan of salvation. The 1st reading (Num 21:4b-9) is seen as a forecast of  crucifixion of Jesus. Moses lifts up d

the likeness of a fiery serpent mounted on a pole. This brings healing, and salvation to those who had been bitten by fiery serpents as punishment for the people’s sins of complaining against God and Moses. The bronze snake on the pole reminded the Israelites of their lack of loyalty to God. The Holy Cross takes the message of the bronze snake to a higher level in the gospel. It reminds us that God sacrificed His only son to teach us about faith, humility, obedience, and the belief in eternal life. More importantly, the Gospel also refers back to the fiery serpent on the pole and how it is a sign pointing to the even greater healing that God brings to all who look upon the One who is lifted up on the wood of the cross.




The Cross is the most prominent symbol of our faith. It is used for worship and devotions, in private and in public prayer. We remember what Jesus told us about being His disciples. If we want to be His disciples, then we will have to take up our cross and follow Him (Lk 9:23) Unlike other believers whose cross is without Jesus, our cross is never complete without Jesus on it. It is called the ‘crucifix’ because Christ Our Lord and Saviour was fixed on it, nailed to the cross. Today we are called upon to look at the Cross and meditate on it. Every page of the gospels is paved with hard teachings and only with the inner eyes of faith can we see the eternal reward that lies ahead in the glory of the celestial home. 




Each and every one of us has our own cross that makes life difficult for us. Sometimes we may even say: Why is it that the more that I go near Jesus the heavier the cross that I carry? The cross that we carry is a test of our faith, we would not be able to fully understand the presence of Jesus in our lives without silently carrying and enduring our own cross. What is important is whenever we carry our cross we invite Jesus to help us carry it and ask Him to journey with us with our cross. Let us not complain like the Jews or question why we have our cross because the cross that burdens us right now is nothing compared to the cross of Jesus. 



Are you carrying your own cross or you have considered leaving it for the sake of what the world wants to offer you? Does your cross makes life so difficult for you? Look up to Jesus then close your eyes and humbly ask Him to help you carry it. May God strengthen us when we are weak to carry our cross and may He make us follow Him as His true disciples. Amen. 




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Image
  REPORTING LIVE FROM ROME GOOD SHEPHERD, I AM BLESSED AND SO THANKFUL!! (BEARING WITNESS TO A RARE OCCASION) 4th Sunday of Easter  Acts 13:14,​43-52 Psalm 99(100):1-3,5 Apocalypse 7:9,​14-17 John 10:27-30 May 8! What an unforgettable day! I had just wrapped up the final lecture of the day at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome with my thesis moderator, Professor Lewis Ayres. This is the same prestigious university that counts St. Pope John Paul II and Cardinal Francis Prevost among its illustrious alumni!  On my way home, I called my mom to wish her a Happy Birthday, reminding her of my dad’s passing on the same day over a decade ago. We had a good laugh about a seagull perched near the chimney of the Sistine Chapel when, out of nowhere, the news broke—“Habemus papam!” The Cardinal Deacon proclaimed it loud and clear! There was huge traffic and everyone started running to the square.  Just an hour later, the new pope, Leo XIV, emerged onto the gr...
Read more
Image
  Saint Francis de Sales, Bishop, Doctor  Hebrews 8:6-13 Psalm 84(85):8,10-14 Mark 3:13-19 GOD HAS CHOSEN YOU FOR A PURPOSE  Today the Church celebrates the memorial of St. Francis de Sales, a figure emblematic of profound prayer and spirituality. His teachings emphasize the essential nature of remaining in divine love, encapsulated in his assertion that effective preaching is rooted in love itself. In contemporary discourse, there is an inclination to simplify Christianity to mere moral teachings, often overshadowing the necessity of an authentic, contemplative encounter with God. The Vatican Council's document Gaudium et Spes articulates this relationship succinctly: “The root reason for human dignity lies in humanity’s call to communion with God. From the very circumstance of our origin, we are already invited to converse with God. For man would not exist were he not created by God’s love and constantly preserved by it; and he cannot live fully according to truth unles...
Read more
Image
  21st Sunday in Ordinary Time  Isaiah 66:18-21 Psalm 116(117) Hebrews 12:5-7,​11-13 Luke 13:22-30 NO MATTER WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM, STEP THROUGH THE NARROW DOOR AND EMBRACE YOUR SALVATION! In the time of our Lord, the Jewish people—especially their leaders—held a profound belief that they were the cherished chosen ones of God. However, our Lord stepped onto the scene with a revolutionary message that shook their foundations. He boldly challenged the notion that the kingdom of heaven would simply be their exclusive domain. In today's gospel, He issued a striking warning: many will strive to enter, yet not all will succeed! And here’s the thrilling twist—individuals from every corner of the earth, from the east and west, from the north and south, will take their seats at the grand feast in the kingdom of God! Our Lord was on a mission to broaden horizons and elevate expectations. This extraordinary journey of expanding the kingdom didn’t stop with Him—it has been carried on b...
Read more