Triumph of the Cross

Today’s Feast invites us to look upon the Cross, whether upon a wall, laying upon an altar or desk, or hanging on a chain around someone’s neck, and remember what gives it meaning. For the ancient Romans it was a sign of cruelty and domination, a warning of the punishment for rebelling against the empire. For Christians it is a reminder of the rebellion of sin, just as the bronze serpent was for the Israelites of today’s First Reading, but of a rebellion not quashed through violence and humiliation, but silenced through love. A love of God for man despite his sin that would do anything to facilitate his reconciliation.

Following Christ, as he taught us, is done by taking up our Cross. Whenever we lose our bearings or question the meaning of our suffering we have only to gaze upon the Cross of Christ and we’ll regain our bearings and be able to give meaning to our suffering again, understanding not only what it means for us, but what it can mean for those for whom we offer it.

Let’s fix our gaze upon the Cross today, not only Our Lord’s, but ours, and renew our desire to take it up and follow Christ.

Readings: Numbers 21:4b–9; Philippians 2:6–11; John 3:13–17. See also Exaltation of the Holy Cross and Second Week of Easter,Tuesday.

In today’s liturgy we remember a silent witness and message that accompanies us for our whole life. It hangs in churches, from rosaries, and from our necks. It hangs on classroom walls and in hospital wards, and it stands watch over the tombs of our loved ones waiting for the Resurrection at the end of time. This silent witness says so many things that from ancient times it has brought a simple prayer to Christian lips: “Hail the Cross, Our Only Hope.” It’s not hanging in so many schools or hospitals anymore, but that is because the world cannot ignore the message it sends and the witness it gives.

In today’s Gospel Our Lord says that he must be lifted up so that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life. He draws a parallel from a moment in the life of Israel and Moses that we remember in today’s First Reading: Christ’s raising up must be like that bronze serpent Moses set up in the desert so that the Israelites could look upon when they received a lethal bite from the little seraph serpents and be saved. We too have received that lethal bite for our sins: the lethal bite of death, and by raising our eyes to Christ on the Cross and entrusting ourselves to Him, we receive life. There’s no other cure for the poison of sin than the grace Christ won for us on the cross.

Let us thank Our Lord for suffering and dying for us on the cross, and promise him that today we’ll gaze upon the crucifix with eyes of love, trusting in him to keep transmitting to us the message of love that the cross gives us.

Readings: Numbers 21:4b–9; Philippians 2:6–11; John 3:13–17.