Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Reading 1: Numbers: 21:4B-9
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 78:1BC-2, 34-35, 36-37, 38
Reading 2: Philippians 2:6-11
Gospel: John: 3:13-17
Today is the Feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross. In today’s readings from the Book of Numbers we have the Israelites grumbling against God and Moses. Chronologically, this event is after God provides them with manna and quails (Exodus 16:4-15) when they complained to God and Moses about being int the desert without food and they had said that it would have been better that they had died in Egypt.
The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died at the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt, as we sat by our kettles of meat and ate our fill of bread! But you have led us into this wilderness to make this whole assembly die of famine!”
Exodus 6:3
They ate the manna and quails for 40 years, up until they came to the borders of Canaan (Exodus 16:35). And as our pastor mentioned today in his homily they said,
“…Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in the wilderness, where there is no food or water? We are disgusted with this wretched food!”
Numbers 21:5
The people complained about not having food, so God gives them food. Then they begin to complain about the food that is given to them. So, God sends saraphs (also spelled seraphs), which are poisonous snakes, as punishment and the many of the Israelites died. The Israelites turn to Moses and asks him to ask the Lord to remove the saraphs. Moses prays to God and God gives him the instruction to build a bronze saraph on a pole and place it for the people to see and anyone who is bitten recovered and did not die.
May see God’s punishment as merely being punitive or even spiteful. But God’s punishments are his justice as well. They are opportunities for his people, both in ancient times and today, to reform our lives and become more faithful.
When we read John’s Gospel passage in the light of the first reading, we see another lifting up, but this time, it is not a saraph on a pole, but Jesus on the Cross. Jesus references Moses lifting up the serpent in the desert and makes reference back to himself and it is through Jesus’s sacrifice on the Cross allows our salvation.
And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”
John 3:14-15.
In the Catholic church, we do not simply wear crosses or have them on the wall, but we have crucifixes. The difference is that a cross contains no corpus (body), whereas a crucifix does. I had a Baptist friend, and I have heard many others, say to me that Jesus was crucified, died, and resurrected and is no longer on the cross and that we should not keep putting Him back on the cross. But while Jesus lived, died, and was resurrected in a specific point in human history. He died for the sins of the entire world throughout all of time. From the sins of our first parents, Adam and Eve, through the last and final death before the end of the world.
The crucifix is our constant reminder of our sins and our way to salvation. He was lifted up on the cross, like bronze saraph in the desert, not for the salvation of just a few, but for the salvation of the world. In John 3:16, we read,
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.
John 3:16
God freely gave us his Son, and His Son, of His own free will took upon himself the sins of all generations, past, present, and future.
When we look upon crucifix, are we prepared to give ourselves completely to Jesus? Are we humble enough to stand at the foot of the cross and ask His forgiveness and are we willing to make the necessary changes in our life so that we may enter into eternal life with Him?
The way to heaven is through Jesus Christ, who suffered and died for us on the Cross. Make use of the sacraments that are available to you. Examine your conscience, go to Confession and receive Holy Communion in a state of grace. Spend time with Jesus in Adoration. Let us be like Mary, his mother, and gaze upon him on the Cross and remember his sacrifice for us.
Prayer for Sinners (From the Diary of Saint Faustina)
O sweetest Heart of my Lord, full of pity and unfathomable mercy, I plead with You for poor sinners. O Most Sacred Heart, Fount of Mercy, from which gush forth rays of inconceivable graces upon the entire human race, I beg of You light for poor sinners. O Jesus, be mindful of Your own bitter Passion and do not permit the loss of souls redeemed at so dear a price of Your most precious Blood. O Jesus, when I consider the great price of Your Blood, I rejoice at its immensity, for one drop alone would have been enough for the salvation of all sinners. Although sin is an abyss of wickedness and ingratitude, the price paid for us can never be equalled. Therefore, let every soul trust in the Passion of the Lord, and place its hope in His mercy. God will not deny His mercy to anyone. Heaven and earth may change, but God’s mercy will never be exhausted. Oh, what immense joy burns in my heart when I contemplate Your incomprehensible goodness, O Jesus! I desire to bring all sinners to Your feet that they may glorify Your mercy throughout endless ages. Amen (Diary, 72)