Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross - Cycle C

John 3:13-17

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3:17)

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Exultation of the Holy Cross. Embracing the truth of the cross means that the places of apparent failure and shame can become the starting points for glory and hope. 

Our stories and failures are often cloaked behind our worldly lens. When we unveil parts of our stories, the fallen nature of our hearts can become revealed. These places where the subsequent temptation is to discouragement, despair, and hopelessness, etc. 

But what an incredible reminder in our Gospel passage, that God looks at everything through the lens of love. He enters the story of mankind not because it is a problem to fix, but because it is the story of the beloved being restored. 

The first reading from Numbers illustrates this further—when He enters into our messes He doesn’t just remove the problems in our lives, especially those directly stemming from our weaknesses. Rather, his way necessitates a transformation process. He takes the thing of death and raises it high, transformed by his glory and mercy alone, and says we must behold it. 

I think an invitation for this weekend might be to recognize this demand of the Lord. As clearly stated, salvation comes from Him alone. If we spend time pondering those “problem” areas and sources of pain in our lives, perhaps we can discern: Where do we find our hearts turning away, or grumbling about outcomes? Where are we discouraged, seeing only the death and problematic consequences of our fallen inclinations? 

Then, we must turn to Him. Instead of solving things our way, we spend time with Him on the cross. In gazing, we surrender and acknowledge the truth that salvation and our hope truly come from Him alone. Then, when our lenses too have been reformed by love, we can see more clearly whatever lays before us. “Hail the Cross, Our Only Hope.”