Numbers 21:4-9; Psalm 78:1-2, 34-38; Philippians 2:6-11; John 3:13-17 At the name of Jesus every knee should bend. (Phil 2:10) So must the Son of Man be lifted up (Jn 3:14) September 14: The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross In AD 326, St. Helena, the mother of the Roman emperor Constantine, discovered the true cross of Jesus near the site that generations had venerated as the Mount of Crucifixion. Upon discovering the cross, everyone fell to their knees and cried out, “Lord, have mercy!” A church was built on the site - the Church of the Holy Sepulcher - and the cross was placed in a prominent position within the building. The church was consecrated on September 13, 335, and the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross was celebrated annually on the following day, September 14. About three hundred years later, the cross was taken as plunder by the Persian emperor, Khosrau II, but was reclaimed fourteen years later by the Roman emperor, Heraclius, who brought it to Constantinople where it was once again triumphantly exalted. This short history lesson has some resemblance to the way we live out our faith. For instance, when we see the glory of the cross and the sacrifice Jesus made for us, we rejoice. With grateful hearts we say, “Lord, I love you; have mercy on me.” But then we lose sight of this gift of salvation. Without even realizing it, we let the cross get buried underneath our many priorities and responsibilities. Then, when we are touched, maybe by a tragic event, by a book we read, or by a moving homily or sermon at Mass, we “excavate” the cross and exalt it once more. We give it a place of prominence in the sanctuary of our hearts. But then we lose our focus and let our guard down. A stronger foe conquers us and steals the joy of the cross from us. Finally, with newfound determination we take the cross back and we say once more, “Jesus, I exalt your cross. I make it my foundation. Lord, have mercy on me!” May we all do our best to exalt the cross and make it the first foundation of our lives! When The Son of Man Is Lifted Do you know the healing transforming power of the cross of Jesus Christ? The Lord Jesus came to unite earth with heaven and to raise those on earth to the glory of heaven. Jesus explains to Nicodemus, one of the chief leaders of the Jewish nation, that he is the Son of Man sent by the Father in heaven to restore our broken relationship with God. The Son of Man is a key Old Testament title for the Messiah who comes from heaven to establish Gods kingdom on the earth (see the prophecy of Daniel 7:13-14). Moses Delivers His People From Death In The Wilderness What does Jesus mean when he says the Son of Man must be lifted up? Jesus links this expression with Moses who lifted up the bronze serpent in the wilderness in order to bring about healing and restoration of life to those who were bitten by deadly serpents. This plague of death was the result of the peoples stubborn refusal to follow Gods counsel and direction for their welfare. God in his mercy heard the prayer of Moses to free his people from this curse. God instructed Moses to make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and every one who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live (Num 21:8). Moses lifted high the image of a bronze serpentine fixed to the wood of the pole, which resembled a cross. Those who put their faith in God by repenting of their disobedience were healed and restored to wholeness of life. Jesus Links His Victory On The Cross with Moses Act Of Deliverance Jesus clearly links the act of deliverance by Moses in the wilderness with his own impending sacrificial death when he will be lifted up on the wood of the cross at Calvary. Unlike the deliverance by Moses in the wilderness which only resulted in temporary relief for the people, the atoning death of Jesus on the cross brought decisive victory over sin, Satan, and death. The victory of Jesus on the cross cancels the debt of our sin, and releases us from guilt and condemnation. His death and victory brings us new life - the new abundant life in his Holy Spirit which lasts forever. The victory of Jesus on the cross also brought about his glorious bodily resurrection to new unending life and his ascension to the right hand of the Father in heaven, where he now rules and intercedes for us. The result of Jesus being lifted up on the cross, and his rising and ascending to the Fathers right hand in heaven, is our new birth in the Spirit and adoption as sons and daughters of God. God not only has redeemed us from sin in Christ, he also fills us with his own divine life through the gift of his Spirit that we might share in his own glory. The Proof Of Gods Love For Us There is no greater proof of Gods love for us than the sending of his Son to become one with us in our humanity and to lay down his life for us. To ransom a slave God gave his Son (an ancient prayer from the Easter vigil liturgy). God sent his Son to free us from the worst of tyrannies - slavery to sin and the curse of death. The sacrificial death of Jesus was an act of total love through self-giving. Jesus gave himself completely out of love for his Father. And he willing laid down his life out of selfless love for our sake and for our salvation. His death on the cross was both a total offering to God and the perfect sacrifice of atonement for our sin and the sin of the world. John tells us that Gods love cannot be limited because it is boundless and encompasses all of creation (Jn 3:16). His love is not limited to a single nation or a few chosen friends. His love is limitless because it embraces the whole world and every individual created in his image and likeness. God is a persistent loving Father who cannot rest until all of his wandering children have returned home to him. Saint Augustine says, God loves each one of us as if there were only one of us to love. The Love of God Is Rooted In Truth, Goodness, And Mercy God gives us the freedom to choose whom and what we will love and not love. We can love the darkness of sin and unbelief or we can love the light of Gods truth, goodness, and mercy. If our love is guided by truth, goodness, and that which is truly beautiful, then we will choose for God and love him above all else. What we love shows what we prefer. Do you love God who is the supreme good above all else? And do you seek to put him first in all your thoughts, cares, choices, and actions? Gods Love Sets Us Free To Love And Serve Others Gods love has been poured into our hearts through the gift of the Holy Spirit (Rom 5:5). Do you allow Gods love to purify your heart and the way you treat others? Do you allow Gods love to transform your mind and the way you think of others? Do you allow Gods love to conquer every unruly passion and addiction that would enslave you to sin and harmful behaviour? The Holy Spirit gives us his seven-fold gifts of wisdom and understanding, right judgement and courage, knowledge and reverence for God and his ways, and a holy fear in Gods presence (see Isaiah 11) that we may live Gods way of life and serve in the power and strength of his enduring love and mercy. Do you thirst for new life in the Spirit? Carrying Our Crosses Jesus instructs all his disciples, thats us, to carry our crosses and follow in his footsteps. (Mt 10:38) All of us of course have our crosses, and they come in various shades, very heavy to very light: sickness, broken home, unemployment, difficult spouse or child, facing harassment or unacceptance, etc. No matter how heavy your cross is, Jesus is willing to make it light for you. After all, he tells us, Come to me you who are weary and heavy leaden, and I will give you Rest. (Mt 11:28) All you need to do is invite him to be part of your cross. He will surely come, and as he does, you will no longer carry a cross but a crucifix - the symbol of our saving grace. Jesus himself carried a cross to bring about our promised salvation. We must therefore understand that theres no salvation without the cross. “Lord, as I lift up the cross, I ask you to have mercy on me. Lord Jesus Christ, your death brought life for us. Fill me with your Holy Spirit that I may walk in freedom and joy as a child of God and as an heir with Christ of an eternal inheritance.” Amen.
Posted on: Mon, 15 Sep 2014 01:56:10 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015