The Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross
Numbers 21:4–9; Psalm 78:1–2, 34–38; Philippians 2:6–11; John 3:13–17
The Symbol of the Cross
Dear friends, today we mark the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. Jesus, the Son of God, became man to save humanity from various forms of slavery. Yet He was rejected, condemned, and crucified on the cross.
Crucifixion was a well-established form of execution long before the time of Jesus. It was used by several ancient civilizations, including the Persians and Carthaginians, and later became particularly associated with the Romans. By the first century AD, crucifixion had become a common Roman method of executing rebels, slaves, and criminals considered dangerous to public order.
Jesus was a good man who went about doing good and bringing healing and hope to the people of His time. However, some Jewish religious leaders opposed Him because of His teachings, His popularity, and His claims about His identity, including His claim to be the Messiah and the Son of God.
Since the Jewish leaders did not have the authority under Roman rule to carry out the death penalty, they brought Jesus before the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate. They accused Him of political crimes, presenting Him as someone who claimed to be “King of the Jews” (Luke 23:1–2; John 19:12). In Roman eyes, anyone claiming kingship could be viewed as a rival to Caesar and therefore as a threat to Roman authority.
Although Pilate found no sufficient basis for the charges against Jesus (John 18:38; 19:4, 6), he eventually gave in to the pressure of the crowd. Fearing unrest and the possibility of being reported to Caesar, he allowed Jesus to be crucified.
Take Up Your Cross: Even before His own crucifixion, Jesus spoke several times about the cross. In Matthew 10:38, Jesus says: “Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” Jesus was speaking about the cost of discipleship. At that time, the cross was already known as a cruel Roman instrument of execution. Therefore, to “take up one’s cross” meant accepting rejection, suffering, sacrifice, and even death for the sake of the Kingdom of God.
Taking up the cross does not mean deliberately looking for suffering. Rather, it means choosing fidelity to Christ even when following Him becomes difficult, uncomfortable, or costly. Are you the kind of believer who wants to follow Jesus but without suffering?
In the Synoptic Gospels—Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34, and Luke 9:23—Jesus says: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Luke particularly emphasizes the word “daily.” This reminds us that discipleship is not a one-time heroic act. It is a lifelong journey.
To deny oneself means putting God’s will before our own desires, ego, ambitions, and personal interests. The cross therefore symbolizes radical self-giving love, perfectly modelled by Jesus Himself. There are many baptized Christians who no longer practise their faith because of the cross involve in living the faith. Some have abandoned prayer, the sacraments, and participation in the life of the Church. Are you among them? Did life became better after abandoning the faith?
The Cross: From Defeat to Victory: In John 12:32, Jesus says: “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” Jesus is referring directly to His crucifixion. To be “lifted up” refers both to the physical act of being raised on the cross and to His eventual exaltation in glory. This connects beautifully with today’s first reading. The Israelites were being bitten by poisonous serpents. God instructed Moses to make a bronze serpent and raise it up so that anyone who had been bitten and looked at it would live.
Today, humanity looks to the cross of Jesus Christ for salvation. This is the paradox of the Christian faith: the cross, which appears to be a symbol of defeat, becomes the place of victory. Through the cross, Jesus conquers sin and death and reconciles humanity with God. The cross is therefore not simply an instrument of suffering. It is the throne from which Christ reveals the depth of God’s love.
Carrying the Crosses of Others: In Luke 23:26, Simon of Cyrene is compelled to carry the cross of Jesus. This moment teaches us another important dimension of Christian discipleship. Following Jesus does not mean carrying only our own crosses. It also means helping others to carry theirs. Every person we meet may be carrying a hidden cross: illness, poverty, loneliness, family problems, grief, rejection, failure, unemployment, addiction, or disappointment.
Simon of Cyrene reminds us that sometimes our mission is simply to stand beside another person and help them carry their burden. Are you a person who helps others carry their crosses, or do you add more weight to their burdens?
Carrying the Cross with Humility: St. Paul, in today’s second reading, reminds us that accepting and carrying the cross after Jesus requires humility. Jesus “humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8). Jesus did not run away from the cross. He accepted it in obedience to the Father and out of love for humanity.
In our own lives, our daily responsibilities can become our crosses. The responsibilities of parents, religious men and women, priests, teachers, political leaders, workers, and every Christian can demand sacrifice and self-giving. Lack of humility, however, can make us believe that we should never have to suffer or sacrifice for others.
We see this when parents abandon their responsibilities towards their children; when religious or Church leaders seek their own glory instead of the glory of God; or when political leaders place heavy burdens on the people for their own personal gain. Christian discipleship calls us to carry the responsibilities entrusted to us with humility, love, and fidelity. Are you carrying the cross entrusted to you with humility?
The Sign of the Cross: The love of God that accompanied humanity throughout history reaches its culmination in the death of His beloved Son on the cross. Catholics, make the Sign of the Cross before we pray. It helps them to place our minds and hearts in the presence of God remembering that their salvation came through the painful death of Christ on the cross. At the end of our prayer, we make the Sign of the Cross as a reminder that we belong to God and are called to carry His presence into our daily lives.
During times of trials and temptations, the cross reminds us of Christ’s victory and strengthens our faith. At Baptism, we are marked with the Sign of the Cross, signifying that we belong to Christ and have been incorporated into His Church. Therefore, when we make the Sign of the Cross, we should not do it mechanically or simply as a religious habit. We should understand what we are doing. When we make the Sign of the Cross, we place our mind, heart, soul, body, will, thoughts, and entire life under the loving care of God. Are you ashamed of making the sign of the cross in public?
The Sign of the Cross contains a profound message. It reminds us of who we are, whom we belong to, and what Christ has done for us. The cross is the sign of God’s love, Christ’s sacrifice, our salvation, and our Christian identity. Therefore, do we should not be afraid or ashamed to witness to the One who died on the cross so that you might have the hope of eternal life.
Let us carry our crosses faithfully. Let us help others carry theirs. Let us make the Sign of the Cross with faith and conviction, remembering always that the cross of Christ is not the end of the story. The cross leads to resurrection, The cross leads to victory, The cross leads to life.
Blessed Feast
Fr. Lawrence Muthee, SVD
SVD JAMBO KENTAN 