Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Information about the Exaltation of the Holy Cross[1]

Readings for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross[2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible

Commentary:

Reading 1: Numbers 21:4b-9

The reading from the book of Numbers recounts another intervention by God along their sojourn in the desert. God had already provided “manna” which is what the Israelites in this reading now call “wretched food”. The people see a plague of venomous snakes as a punishment from God for their complaints about the hardships of their journey.

This event is seen by the Christian community as an analogy to the later crucifixion of Jesus; “If anyone who has been bitten looks at it, he will recover: "and as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that those who believe in him may not perish, but may have life everlasting" (John 3:14-15).”

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 78:1bc-2, 34-35, 36-37, 38
R. Do not forget the works of the Lord!

Psalm 78 is a historical recital recounting the encounter of the Israelites with God; their rejection of His gifts and the punishments for these rejections. In this selection the psalmist recalls the journey in the wilderness. The rebellion of the people is met with punishment but later merciful forgiveness.
Reading II: Philippians 2:6-11

This familiar passage from St. Paul’s Letter to the Philippians is known as the “Kenotic” hymn or “emptying” hymn. Christ empties himself of the complete divinity that is his essence and accepts the human condition. As true man he suffers the ultimate humiliation of death (on the cross). The second section of the hymn focuses on God’s resulting actions of exaltation. The Christian sings to God’s great glory in Christ proclaiming him Lord and Savior.

Gospel: John 3:13-17
Taking the image given in Numbers above, Jesus tells Nicodemus that humanity will be saved when the Son of Man is lifted up on the Cross.. The passage continues with the great profession of Jesus’ relation as only Son of God the Father and the redemptive mission upon which he was sent.

Reflection:

The celebration today focuses on the recovery by the Church of relics of the True Cross. Historically, this feast was celebrated in Rome before the end of the 7th century to commemorate the recovery of that portion of the Holy Cross, which was preserved at Jerusalem, and which had fallen into the hands of the Persians. Emperor Heraclius recovered this precious relic and brought it back to Jerusalem, 3 May 629.

Let’s take a moment and look at the wonderful metaphor set up for us today as we think about the Cross, how the Lord took that Roman symbol of humiliation and transformed it into our symbol of victory.

In Numbers we hear how, because of the grumbling of the Hebrews, the Father sent them saraph serpents, venomous snakes that caused a number of deaths among the wandering group. We hear how Moses prayed to God and how the Lord told him to make a saraph and place it on a staff, lifting it up high so it could be seen from a distance. He told the people that the Father had told him, anyone who was bitten and looked at that symbol would not die.

Then comes that amazing testimony from the Gospel of St. John;

“No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”

The linkage is plain, the metaphor complete. Whoever is poisoned by sin need only lift up their hearts and eyes to Jesus who is hung upon the Cross and they will be saved.

That does not mean for us that once we have gazed upon that enigmatic symbol once meant to be the ultimate humiliation and excruciating death, now turned to the great hope for eternal life, that we are saved even if we turn away. Our eyes must remain firmly fixed upon the Cross and what it stands for.

The Glorious news for us today is that that path to salvation is open to us. The Cross itself tells us that that path will not be easy. The Cross remains a symbol of hope, it is also a reminder that Jesus has told us that if we wish to follow him, we must take up our own cross and all that implies to follow his steps, stumbling and falling, enduring the sufferings of this life’s journey, until at last we can rest with him.

Pax

[1] The picture used today is Discovery of the True Cross by Giovanni Battsta Tiepolo, 1745
[2] After Links to Readings Expire