Exaltation Of The Cross

Numbers 21:4-9 
John 3:13-17

Today we celebrate the feast of the Exultation of the Holy Cross, a feast important to the universal Church. Today’s feast is celebrated this day for this is the day that the basilica of the Holy Sepulcher was dedicated in Jerusalem over the site where many believed Jesus died on the cross. At this site, crosses were found, one of which may have been the cross on which Jesus died. Today is 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 d Triumph of the Cross, but the meaning that is linked to the word “exaltation,” is in order.

The readings allow us to reflect on the meaning of the cross in the plan of salvation and Jesus’ being raised up and, as a result, our being raised up eventually to be with Him in heaven.
In the Book of Numbers, we see how the seraph mounted on a pole is transformed from a symbol of death and misery into a sign of healing and deliverance.  In a similar fashion the Cross itself, that very instrument by which the Savior is to be lifted up, becomes transformed from something that wields death to something new and wonderful, a source of salvation and eternal life.In John’s Gospel, we find an extraordinary verse that is often flashed on handheld placards at various sporting events as “Jn 3:16”.  In this single verse, we discover the very heart and summary of the proclamation of our salvation.  We are loved by God and we are saved by God’s beloved Son so that we might not die but live forever.

But one of the things that I always find fascinating on this special feast is the message in the reading from Philippians that we find neatly placed in between the exceptionally graphic events in the Book of Numbers and John’s Gospel.  In this reading, we are given a remarkable glimpse of how it is that the suffering and death of Jesus our savior actually brings about healing and salvation.  Paul, who is imprisoned, writes his inspiring letter to the Philippians encouraging them to love more deeply as Christ does.  The heart of Paul’s message is that in order to make love victorious we must empty ourselves of ourselves – just as Jesus the Christ did in his embrace of the Cross and in his obedience to the will of the Father.  Suffering and death is transformed; the Cross is no longer a symbol of death but signifies, instead, a victory over death. 

Today we are called upon to look at the Cross and meditate on it. The Cross is the most prominent symbol of our faith. It is used for worship and devotions both in private and 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 Christians whose cross is without Jesus, our cross is never complete without Jesus. More so our cross symbolizes the burdens that we bear. Each and everyone 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.

May the Lord who does all and accomplishes all in the name of Love and in His name who has so loved every one of us continue to give us the strength to carry our crosses daily till the end .Amen.

Fr Joseph Osho