The Exaltation of the Cross: Our Path to Salvation
The Cross as Our Central Symbol
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we reflect on the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The crucifix stands at the center of our faith because it represents the very moment when our salvation was won. Today, I invite us all to look upon the cross with fresh eyes and open hearts, to rediscover how this instrument of torture became the ultimate symbol of God's love and our salvation.
The Lifting Up of Christ (John 3:14-15)
In John 3:14-15, Jesus tells us: 'And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.' This refers to the event in Numbers 21:8-9, when the Israelites were dying from snake bites in the desert and God instructed Moses to create a bronze serpent on a pole. Anyone who looked upon it was healed. Just as the Israelites were saved from physical death by looking at the bronze serpent, we are saved from spiritual death by turning our gaze to Christ crucified. The cross is not just a historical event but a present reality that continues to offer healing and salvation to all who look upon it with faith.
Boasting in the Cross (Galatians 6:14)
St. Paul declares in Galatians 6:14: 'But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.' While the world might boast in wealth, status, or achievements, Paul boasted only in the cross because through it, the power of sin and death was broken. Through the cross, we are reconciled to God and receive the grace of salvation.
Christ's Humility and Exaltation (Philippians 2:5-11)
In Philippians 2:8-9, we read that Christ 'humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him.' This shows us the full arc of salvation – Christ's willingness to embrace the cross in perfect obedience led to His resurrection and exaltation. What appeared to be defeat was actually the greatest victory in human history.
Walking with Christ: The Stations of the Cross
One powerful way we Catholics enter into the mystery of the cross is through the Stations of the Cross. This devotion allows us to walk alongside Jesus on His final journey. When we pray the Stations, we don't just remember a historical event – we participate in it spiritually. I encourage each of you to make the Stations of the Cross a regular part of your spiritual life, as through this devotion, the power of the cross becomes not just something we believe in, but something we experience in our hearts.
Living the Cross Today
What does it mean for us to embrace the salvation offered through the cross? First, it means accepting God's mercy through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Second, it means allowing the cross to transform our suffering by uniting our pain with Christ's. Third, it means carrying our cross daily in discipleship, dying to selfishness so that we might live for God and others.
Embracing Salvation Through the Cross
Brothers and sisters, as we celebrate the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, let us truly exalt it in our hearts and lives. When you see a cross, pause and remember what it means. Make the sign of the cross mindfully, claiming its power over your thoughts, love, and actions. For on the cross, Christ transformed an instrument of death into the tree of life, opened His arms to embrace all humanity, and offered each of us the gift of salvation. May we receive this gift with grateful hearts and live it with faithful lives. Amen.