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The Cross of Christ: Our hope of glory

THE WORD BECAME FLESH

Tuesday of 24th week in ordinary time, 2021

 

FEAST OF THE EXALTATION OF THE CROSS

Numb 21: 4-9

Phil 2:6-11

John 3:13-17

The Cross of Christ: Our hope of glory

Today’s liturgy invites us to glory in the cross of Christ. Execution by crucifixion was employed by the Ancient Roman authorities because of its impact. An instrument of torture beyond measure, that leaves a lasting image of blood and brutality in the minds of the living. The cross was a scandal to the Jews and folly to the Greeks, since their philosophy could not imagine a god that will be so vulnerable, as to die such a shameful death.(1Cor. 1:18ff)

On their way to the Promised Land, the people lost their patience and complained against Moses. “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.” They failed to understand that the road to freedom is often long and difficult. God therefore decided to teach them a lesson, by sending fiery serpents among them.  They thought of death themselves, but in the face of death, from the serpents, they desired to live. They apologised and Moses then turned to God who also gave a remedy. Moses did what the Lord commanded by fashioning a serpent of bronze on a standard and all those who were bitten, and who looked at the bronze serpent, lived. Was it the serpent that healed?  No!  The book of Wisdom tells us, “For when the dire venom of beasts came upon them and they were dying from the bite of crooked serpents, … then they had a sign of salvation, to remind them of the precept of your law, for he who turned towards it was saved, not by what he saw, but by you, the saviour of all.” (Wis 16:5-7)

In Christian tradition, the episode that took place in the wilderness takes a new meaning with Christ crucified.  The cross is not a charm.  The power of the cross, is in the one who hangs upon it.  If the Jews were healed when they looked at the bronze serpent that hung upon the tree, how much more shall we, when we look upon Christ crucified.

Today’s feast invites us therefore to contemplate this great symbol and Icon of our faith. To venerate the cross should not end with bowing to or kissing the material object. It should be for us an indication of a life style. It should become the guiding sign of our lives.

In our second reading, Paul introduces a hymn that praises the humility of Jesus as one who emptied himself of his divine glory and took on our nature in order to save us.  He took up the condition of a slave and yet, he was humble even to accepting death on the cross. There are too many people today who believe in the triumphant Jesus, and will not even think of the one who died on the cross. Here Jesus gives us the perfect image of God: in one who is poor, one who kept back nothing unto himself, but gave everything for the sake of humanity. In the cross, his love for us is perfected. If he loved us that much, how much should we love one another?

The cross as at the time of Jesus was the most cruel, most painful, most shameful and most agonising instrument of torture. It was reserved mainly for bandits, rebel slaves, and for those who had committed the most brutal crimes. Cicero, (the Roman orator and writer of the first Century) says about the cross: “Even if death be threatened, we may die free men; but the executioner, and the veiling of the head, and the mere name of the cross, should be far removed, not only from the persons of Roman citizens—from their thoughts, and eyes, and ears. For not only the actual fact and endurance of all these things, but the bare possibility of being exposed to them,—the expectation, the mere mention of them even,—is unworthy of a Roman citizen and of a free man…” That however was what Jesus got for daring to come into the world to save us.

The story of the visit of Nicodemus to Jesus, the gospel, is only reported by the Evangelist John.  Nicodemus an important member of the sect of the Pharisees and likely a member of the Sanhedrin is a perfect example of those who came to Jesus in secret, searching for salvation. He is perhaps searching for the truth, and believes that Jesus can reveal that truth.

Jesus told him, “The son of man must be lifted up as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so that everyone who believes may have eternal life.” In his lifting up, Jesus brings redemptive healing to wounded humanity itself. The cross is a true revelation of the depth of God’s love for fallen humanity. The cross remains the greatest proof of God’s love for humanity.

What is the cross you have to carry today?  Offer it up to the Lord. We adore you O Christ and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus after your fall you picked yourself up, now pick me up Lord. Amen.

+Remain blessed

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