Exaltation of the Holy Cross

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

We should glory in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,

in whom is our salvation, life and resurrection,

through whom we are saved and delivered.

Do you have a favorite Olympic medalist? The bright medals that the Olympic winners proudly wear symbolize the valiant efforts of these athletes and the high level of their competitive skills.  We congratulate them as they step up to the podium, and we admire them for their success.

How much higher is the holy Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ exalted and praised! By the most dramatic irony ever, the seemingly utter defeat of the cross gained for Jesus Christ the most exalted place in heaven, at the right hand of God the Father! Having become Man so He could save mankind, Jesus purchased, by His terrible death on the Cross, the rebirth to salvation of the whole human race.

Not only did Christ achieve His glory through the blessed Cross, but by accepting our own crosses, we, too, will achieve our glory and the glory of the souls for whom we willingly sacrifice.

At a glance, there seems to be nothing attractive about the cross. The truth is that the cross is infinitely more precious than its simple appearance. The two bars of the cross, combined, are a mystical sign of the universal availability of salvation and a welcome into the embrace of the Most Holy Trinity.

The vertical stem unites earth with heaven. It is the directional sign to our goal, far more elevated than any Olympic podium.  The horizontal beam, “the arms of the cross”, reaches out to all people who want to be saved. Everyone is invited into God’s family because God wants to save all.

There is no easy way around the mystery of how the suffering we endure now can bring joy to us and to others, both now and in the future. We need the steel of our faith to undergird our suffering. The fact that we suffer along with our Savior, and close to Him, is a consolation. He always draws near to us when we suffer.

You and I can exalt the Cross of our Savior by praising and adoring Him and by putting His redemptive suffering into practice in our own lives.  Let us encourage each other to take up our own crosses and follow Him. The exaltation of a faithful disciple of Christ is more glorious than we could possibly imagine. Lift high the Cross!

We adore you, O Christ and we love you,

because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.