Saturday, September 14, 2002
Exaltation of the Holy
Cross
1st Reading: Num 21:4-9
2nd Reading: Phil 2:6-11
Gospel: Jn 3:13-17
Jesus said to Nicodemus, "No one has ever gone up to heaven except
the one who came from heaven, the Son of Man.
As Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be
lifted up, so that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
Yes, God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that whoever believes
in him may not be lost, but may have eternal life. God did not send the
Son into the world to condemn the world; instead, through him the world
is to be saved."
Commentary
Through the course of centuries the discourse on the cross has lost by and large its impact. This powerful symbol has been domesticated by Christian ritual. It has become more of a beautiful decoration, sometimes made of precious metals, studded with equally costly gems and of other valuable materials. It has lost its shocking message. In the first centuries of the Christian or common era, it was taboo to talk of the cross. To die on it was an utter disgrace, reserved for the worst of criminals. That is why, it must have been shocking for Jesus' listeners to hear his demand of discipleship as a taking of one's cross. If there is anything good in it, it is because in seeing Jesus on the cross we see not only the rich and powerful's inhumanity to other humans but above all God's unconditional love for all!