Reflection on Today's Readings and the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, September 14th, 2020
Texts: Num. 21:4-9; Ps. 78:1-2.34-38; Phil. 2:6-11; John 3:13-17
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, which brings to mind again the mystery of the Cross. Cross reveals to us a great mystery. Today's Psalmist says, "Give ear, my people, to my teaching; incline your ear to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable and utter hidden lessons of the past". It is in the Cross that it is revealed that there is glory in shame, wisdom in foolishness, power in weak, victory in defeat, greatness in humility, life in death, and eternal in the temporal. When we are in God all of them are true. It is in God that everything is possible: Shame manifests glory, humility brings forth greatness, wisdom comes forth from foolishness, life springs forth from death etc.
Cross is an emblem of divine humility. Hence, today's second reading says, "And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross". He humbled himself and he was exalted, and the reading adds, "Therefore God has exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name". He reveals in his life what he has taught us: "Anyone who raises himself up will be humbled, and anyone who humbles himself will be raised up" (Matt. 23:12).
The Cross also reveals the cost of obedience. Obedience comes with sacrifice. We cannot obey when we are not ready to sacrifice; we sacrifice our own will to obey another. When the Cross was approaching, Jesus prayed thus: "my Father! All things are possible for you. Take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet not what I want, but what you want" (Mark 14:36). He sacrificed his own will to embrace the Cross. If we are to obey God we have to sacrifice our own will. We must be ready to bear the discomfort of life patiently.
Cross is an emblem of shame and the way to glory. Jesus says, "Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer before entering into his glory?" (Luke 24:26).
In the letter to the Hebrew, we are advised thus: "let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, who leads us in our faith and brings it to perfection: for the sake of the joy which lay ahead of him, he endured the cross, disregarding the shame of it, and has taken his seat at the right of God's throne" (12:2).
The Cross is a victory over sin. The bronze serpent, in the first reading, removed the poison of sin in the life of the people of God when they looked at it. And Jesus says, in the gospel reading, thus: "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". Through the Cross, that which brings death is conquered and eternal life is restored to us.
St. Andrew of Crete, speaking about the Exaltation of the Cross, says, "If there had been no cross, Christ would not have been crucified. If there had been no cross, Life would not have been nailed to the tree. If he had not been nailed, the streams of everlasting life would not have welled from his side, blood and water, the cleansing of the world; the record of our sins would not have been cancelled, we would not have gained freedom, we would not have enjoyed the tree of life, paradise would not have been opened. If there had been no cross, death would not have been trodden under foot, the underworld would not have yielded up its spoils".
Lord Jesus Christ, as we reflect on the mystery of your Cross, today, may we share from its blessings. Amen.
Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
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