Cycle A - Year II:  

14 September 2014: Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross 

(Liturgical color: Red)

John 3:13-17

Love on the Cross!

We interrupt our observance of Ordinary Time in the Church's liturgical calendar to give way to an important feast.

The Church celebrates this Sunday the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross to focus our attention on the work of our Savior on that hill of Jerusalem. We are invited to renew our love for Christ and our gratitude for subjecting Himself to the agony of the cross.

This feast commemorates the important event of the finding, in year 326, of the relics of the cross on which our Lord Jesus Christ was crucified. The liturgical color for this Sunday switches to color red.

Briefly we revisit the event of the finding of the Holy Cross:

St. Helen, mother of Emperor Constantine, was looking for the cross of Jesus. She traveled to Jerusalem and organized a dig at the hill of Calvary. The diggers uncovered three wooden crosses. So they wanted to find out which was the cross of Jesus, and which were the crosses of the two thieves crucified with Him. To do that, they brought a sick woman and a dead man who was being carried to burial. The three crosses were placed one after the other on the sick woman and the dead man. Two of the crosses had no effect, but on contact with the third cross, the sick woman was healed and the dead man came back to life. 

On the site where Jesus' cross was found was built the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which was consecrated on September 13, 335. The feast of the finding and exaltation of the cross was appointed to be celebrated annually on the following day, that is September 14. Today the basilica of the Holy Sepulchre is regarded as the holiest spot on earth by Christians of all denominations.

What is the significance of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross for us today?

Well, the sign of the cross has become a universal Christian symbol. We do this every time we want to connect with God in prayers and in time of danger. For Christians, the cross is not just a piece of wood. Rather, it is a symbolic summary of the suffering, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ by which He has redeemed us from our sins. The cross is thus a symbol  of our faith in the crucified and risen Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Jesus teaches that the cross should be a constant feature in the daily lives of his followers. He says to His disciples: "If you want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." (Lk 9:23)

On the cross, the Love of God for us is manifested through the suffering and death of Jesus. Today's Gospel from John says: "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."  (Jn 3:16)

Love is measured by sacrifice. When we love much we also sacrifice much. This is what we see in Christ. Jesus surrendered His life to the Father in an act of obedient love to save mankind. In other words, Jesus on the Cross reveals God's unconditional love for us.

As we celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, let us not complain when we carry our own cross in our journey in this life but instead let our cross shine with love for the Lord, through service and care for others.

A blessed Sunday to us all. And thank you for a moment with God.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!