We Exalt the Cross

The Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross

~~~ Numbers 21: 4b-9 ~~~ Psalm 78 ~~~ Phil 2: 6-11 ~~~ John 3: 13-17 ~~~

 

Here we are in Ordinary Time with a very special feast...

that of the Exultation of the Cross.

Why would the church want to exalt the cross one might ask?

Per the dictionary exalt means to glorify, praise, honor.

 

Without the cross upon which Jesus was crucified

we would not have salvation.

Jesus humbled himself to not only become human,

but he allowed himself to be put to death on the cross.

Death by crucifixion was reserved for hardened criminals.

It was common place in the time of Jesus.

 

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might not perish
but might have eternal life.

 

Jesus was raised upon the cross for all to look upon.

Just as Moses raised his staff adorned with the serpent.

The serpent upon the staff healed those bitten and poisoned.

 

Jesus hanging on the cross is the picture of our salvation.

The act of hanging on the cross in itself did not save us;

it was the person who hung on the cross.

 

Jesus conformed to the will of the Father and that included being nailed to the cross.

The cross is the symbol of salvation because Jesus died on a cross.

 

Exalting the cross moves it from a device reserved for criminals and sinners to one of mercy, love, hope, and salvation. If Saint Helena did indeed find the true cross; it is not surprising that it would have had some miraculous powers.

 

The flesh and blood of the body of Christ were pressed into the wood of the cross.

The nails pierced his flesh forcing bits of his skin into the wood.

The blood streamed forth from his wounds soaking into the boards near his head,

each hand, and his feet.

 

 

The whole cross pressed with the sacred body of Jesus.

Today's gospel contains the most often quoted verse from scripture...

that God so loved the world.

 

Today we exalt the cross itself...

we raise it with joy as remember how Jesus loved us even by death...

death upon the Cross.

 

Every time your eyes are raised to look at the cross remember he died for you.

It was personal.

Jesus, Obedient to the Father

~~~ Is. 49:8-15 ~~~ Psalm 145 ~~~ John 5:17-30 ~~~

We would all do well to remember that we 'live and breathe, and move' only through God. Every morning when we rise our first breath taken to greet the new day is only through God. Even Jesus openly proclaimed 'the Son cannot do anything on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing'. Of course Jesus is the second person of the Trinity, but it was his humanity acknowledges his obedience to the Father.

Jesus is trying to get us to understand how connected he is with the Father. Jesus, while part of the Triune God, came to do the will of the Father. We still have difficulty grasping that concept today. Too many people today want only to do what 'they' want to do. There is no concept of doing the will of the Father.

In today's gospel, Jesus uses 'Amen, amen' three times. Three times he tries to get our attention because he knew that what he was saying was profound. He also knew that we, humans, would have a hard time with the concept.

Sometimes I admit I am a little jealous of Jesus, because he had no doubt as to what the will of the Father was...he had a direction. I often find myself vacillating between what I think could be God's will and what most likely is just my own preferences bubbling to the surface. So I tend to look for signs (oops, we have been warned about looking for signs) that I am at least making decisions that are on the path.

So here is my rule of thumb...when I make a decision I first pray asking for guidance from the Holy Spirit. If the decision does not feel right or I do not feel at peace then I return to prayer. I wish I could say this is fail proof, but I cannot. Perhaps that says more about me than the validity of the process.

It takes a certain amount of humility and trust to always do the will of the Father. It takes being committed to listen to his voice over and ever again. It often involves stepping out of your usual comfort zone. It can even require blind faith.

The words from Isaiah today of help, restoration, satisfaction are words of encouragement and comfort. "For the Lord comforts his people and shows mercy to his afflicted." Are you available to receive this gift of mercy?

We will never be forgotten by God he is consistently near to all who call on him. He desires to meet all our needs. He wants to lead us out of darkness into the light. He wants us to be refreshed by the streams of water.

Jesus wants all of this for us because of his desire to do the will of the Father...Jesus truly is equal to the Father in all things. He was sent to show us the human qualities of the Father. For all good things come from him.