THE VICTORY OF THE CROSS

Meditation for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross

(Num 21:4-9; Phil 2:6-11; Jn 3:13-17)

Today we celebrate the feast of the exaltation of the Cross. This feast celebrates the discovery of the true Cross by St Helena in the fourth Century, and the return of the Cross by Emperor Heraclius in 629AD. The celebration brings to our consciousness the great triumph of the Cross for our salvation. Think about human life without the Cross of Christ! It would be likened to the Israelites being bitten by fiery serpents without the uplifted bronze serpent. We would have been defeated by suffering even before it came. Without the Cross, the most exalted action of man would be to avoid death, yet, death itself would be the end of our aspirations and an unbearable burden on our lives.

Jesus humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. His victory over death has become his victory over suffering. His victory over suffering gives new meaning and vision to life. “And He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds, you were healed” (1 Pet 2:24). In itself, the Cross represents everything the natural man is afraid of. But Jesus mounted the wood of the Cross and triumphed. The very thing that ought to bring us shame has become a symbol of victory through Jesus Christ. So, “Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, who leads us in our faith and brings it to perfection: for the sake of the joy which lay ahead of Him, He endured the Cross, disregarding the shame of it, and has taken His seat at the right of God’s throne” (Heb 12:2).

 

Jesus said, “When I am lifted up from the earth, I shall draw all people to myself” (Jn 12:32). “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life.” It is by the Cross that we are given opportunity to share in the life of Christ. The miracles and teachings of Jesus inspire and nourish us. But the ultimate way we are drawn to share in the life of Jesus is through His Cross. It is from the Cross that the miracles and teachings receive their efficacy. What would Christianity be if we are consumed by pursuit of miracles but neglect to carry our cross daily and follow Jesus?

 

You see now the reason we celebrate the Triumph of the Cross. In the Cross of Christ, we are lifted above our daily challenges. In the Cross of Christ, we are exalted though the battle still rages. In the Cross of Christ, that which the enemy planned to be our downfall has become the source of our exaltation (cf. Rm 8:28). Therefore, we carry in our bodies the imprint of the Cross of Christ through the sufferings that come our way each day, so that the life of Christ may be revealed in us (cf. 2 Cor 4:10). Amen.

 

Happy feast day.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Wednesday September 14^th, 2022.

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