“And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert,
John 3:14
so must the Son of Man be lifted up.”
Reflection
Jesus tells Nicodemus that only the Son of Man has come down from heaven, and just as Moses lifted the serpent in the desert, so too must the Son of Man be lifted up.
Today we celebrate the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. We honor the cross on which Christ was hung as the image of our salvation, for from it, he conquered death. Jesus explains that just as Moses lifted high a bronze serpent so people could see it and be saved, Christ himself will be lifted high so that the image of his death may bring us eternal life.
The cross is an image we should constantly ponder and put at the center of our lives. Through it, we can contemplate not only Christ’s suffering and death, but how he has saved us in this act of sacrifice. The cross gives us hope and courage, which is something we all need at different times.
Jesus saved us through his death and wants to continue saving us daily. He asks us to look upon his broken body on the cross and stand beside him, learning from his example.
Saint of the Day
Exaltation of the Holy Cross
| St. Helena found the true cross while searching for Jesus’ tomb and had the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher built in the fourth century. We honor the cross Jesus died on every year on the anniversary of the Basilica’s dedication. Holy Cross of Christ, set our hearts on fire! |
