The Glory of the Cross is Self-emptiness

Self-emptiness of Jesus Christ that gives glory to the Cross and brings salvation

Reflection on Today’s Readings, the Feast of Exaltation of the Cross, Wednesday 14th September, 2022
Texts: Numbers 21 :4b-9; Psalm 78:1-2.34-38; Philippians 2:6-11; John 3:13-17

The glory of the Cross is self-emptiness. This is because without self-emptiness exaltation of the Cross would have not been possible. Before Christ Cross had no glory but shame. This is because it was a punishment for evil. The shame of the Cross was pride, disobedience, evil and wickedness. Cross has glory when it is a price paid for good, justice, the salvation of man. This is when it is not deserved and it is a sacrifice for greater good. It is in the sense of the glory of the Cross that we talk of the exaltation of the Cross. Put differently, Cross is exalted because it has glory.

We learn from today’s first reading and the gospel reading that Cross has glory, that is, exaltation of the Cross brings salvation. It delivers us from the power of sin and heals us of its consequence, which is death. Hence, it is said, “And the people came to Moses, and said, ‘We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us.’ … So Moses made a bronze serpent, and set it up as a sign; and if a serpent bit any man, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.” The exaltation of the Cross restores peace between us and God.

It is the tree of salvation, the tree of eternal life.

Today’s gospel reading further emphasises that exaltation of the Cross brings peace and reconciliation with God. It is the tree of salvation, the tree of eternal life. Hence, Jesus Christ says, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that who ever believes in him may have eternal life.” Jesus Christ, who is the Son of man, was lifted up on the Cross. The exaltation of the Cross is the lifting up of Jesus Christ.

Today’s second reading tells us about the glory of the Cross, which is self-emptiness. Self-emptiness is neither a waste or loss of self. It is not also self-forgetfulness. It is paying no regards to one’s ego, self-interest, greatness or glory for a purpose. Self-emptiness is condescension. It is also self-abasement.

Self-emptiness begin with incarnation when the Son of God took flesh. Hence, St. Paul says, “Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.” This Self-emptiness reaches its peak on the Cross. With incarnation He immersed Himself in human condition and reaches its depth on the Cross. St. Paul puts it thus: “And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.”

Self-emptiness of Jesus Christ that gives glory to the Cross and brings salvation

It is Self-emptiness of Jesus Christ that gives glory to the Cross and brings salvation; for St. Paul adds, “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” He becomes for us all the source of salvation because He emptied Himself. It is now clear that the glory of the Cross is self-emptiness.

We cannot accept cross without self-emptiness. We have to learn to sacrifice our ego, self-interest, revelling in earthly glory and passion. It is self-deception to think that we can carry our cross when our joy is in earthly things. Joy in the satisfaction of the passion of the body is an hindrance to self-emptiness. Let us empty ourselves, that we may attain salvation.

O God, who willed that your Only Begotten Son should undergo the Cross to save the human race, grant, we pray, that we who have known his mystery on earth may merit the grace of his redemption in heaven. Amen (Collect)

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke