Numbers 21:4-9; Psalms 77(78):1-2,34-38; Philippians 2:6-11; John 3:13-17
The Symbol of the Cross
Dear friends, today is the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time. However, today, being the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, which falls on 14th September, the feast takes precedence. Jesus, the Son of God who became man so that He could save humanity from various forms of slavery, was killed by hanging on the cross or by crucifixion.
Crucifixion was a well-established form of execution long before the time of Jesus. It was used by several ancient civilizations, including the Persians, Carthaginians, and the Romans, in particular. By the 1st century AD, crucifixion was a common Roman method of punishing rebels, slaves, and criminals considered dangerous to public order.
Though Jesus was a good man who did many good things for the people of his time. However, the Jewish leaders who were opposed to his manner of doing things instigated the Roman authorities and had Him crucified. The Jewish chief priests and elders opposed Jesus because of His teachings, popularity, and claims about His identity (like being the Messiah and the Son of God). Since they had no authority to carry out the death penalty under Roman rule, they brought Him to the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, accusing Him of political crimes (Luke 23:1–2).
To convince Pilate, they framed the case politically: that Jesus claimed to be “King of the Jews.” In Roman law, anyone claiming kingship was seen as a rival to Caesar, which amounted to rebellion (John 19:12). Although Pilate personally found no basis for the charges (John 18:38; 19:4, 6), he feared unrest and the possibility of being reported to Caesar if he did not act against someone accused of treason. To appease the crowd and keep order, he allowed the crucifixion.
Before his own crucifixion, Jesus referred several times to the cross. In Matthew 10:3,8 Jesus said, ys; “Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” Here, Jesus speaks to His disciples about the cost of discipleship. The cross, at that time, was already known as a cruel Roman execution method. To “take up one’s cross” meant accepting rejection, suffering, and even death for His sake. It’s not about seeking suffering for its own sake, but about choosing fidelity to Christ above comfort or safety. Are you the kind of believer who wants to be a follower of Jesus, but without suffering?
In the synoptic Gospels (Matthew 16:24 / Mark 8:34 / Luke 9:23), Jesus says: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Jesus adds the word daily (especially in Luke), showing that discipleship is not a one-time heroic act but a lifelong journey. Denying oneself means putting God’s will before one’s own desires, ego, or ambitions. The cross here symbolizes radical self-giving love, modeled perfectly by Jesus Himself. There are many baptized people who no longer practice their faith. Are you among them?
In John 12:32, Jesus says, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” Here, Jesus refers directly to his own crucifixion. Being “lifted up” means both the physical act of being raised on the cross and His exaltation in glory. In today’s first reading, God told Moses to make a bronze serpent and raise it on high so that anyone who was bitten and looked up to it might live. Today, humanity looks up to the cross of Jesus for salvation. Paradoxically, the cross becomes the place of victory, not defeat, because through it, Jesus reconciles humanity with God.
In Luke 23:26, Simon of Cyrene carries Jesus’ cross. This moment reveals that discipleship may also mean helping to bear others’ burdens. It shows that following Jesus involves both carrying our crosses and sharing in the crosses (burdens) of others. Are you that person who helps others bear their crosses, of you add more weight to them?
St. Paul tells us that accepting and carrying the cross behind Jesus demands a lot of humility. Jesus humbled himself to a level below any human being. Our daily responsibilities are our crosses. Lack of humility makes us think that we are not meant to suffer – parents who abandon their children, religious leaders who seek not the glory of God but their own, political leaders who load burdens on the people for their own gain, etc. Are you carrying the cross assigned to you with humility?
The love of God that accompanied humanity for many generations culminated in the death of His beloved Son on the cross. We made the Sign of the Cross before prayer, which helps to fix our minds and hearts on God. After prayer, we make the Sign of the Cross to stay close to God. During trials and temptations, our strength and protection is the Sign of the Cross. At Baptism, we are sealed with the Sign of the Cross, signifying the fullness of redemption and that we belong to Christ. Let us look to the cross frequently and realize that when we make the Sign of the Cross, we give our entire selves to God — mind, soul, heart, body, will, thoughts.
Dear friends, many believers who do not know the true meaning of the sign of the cross are afraid to make it openly in public. There is so much meaning contained in the sign of the cross. Do not be afraid to witness the one who died so that you could hope for eternity.
Blessed Feast
Fr. Lawrence Muthee, SVD
SVD JAMBO KENTAN 