Homily for the Exaltation of the Cross

Last updated on: September 14, 2020 at 10:47 am by Father Pablo Migone

Homily for the Exaltation of the Cross 2020-09-14T10:47:57-05:00 Father Pablo Migone

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

One of the oldest churches in Rome, Santa Sabina, has a very important distinction apart from being one of the oldest churches in the city. Sculpted on its wooden door, all the way on the top, is the earliest depiction of the crucifixion of Jesus. Three men stand with arms outstretched in prayer, with Jesus in the middle much larger than the two thieves. You can hardly make out the wood of the crosses.

You’ll be surprised to learn that this first depiction of the crucifixion is from the early fifth century, four hundred years after Christ, and one hundred years after crucifixion was banned in the Roman Empire by Emperor Constantine. Before this time, Jesus was usually portrayed as the Good Shepherd, or in glory after the resurrection.

In today’s feast, the Church invites us to exalt the holy cross of Christ, the same cross depicted for the first time centuries ago at Santa Sabina. Why this invitation? Why this invitation every time we enter a Catholic Church and we are met by a crucifix? Why this invitation every time we see a crucifix in our homes?

We find the answer in the words of Jesus: “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”

Just as the bronze serpent Moses lifted up high in the desert brought life to those who looked at it, so the holding up high of Jesus Christ on the cross brings life to those who believe in him.

Saint Paul teaches us that because Jesus was obedient to death, even death on a cross, God greatly exalted him and now every tongue confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord.

This is the mystery of the cross: that from the unjust and horrific lifting up of Jesus on the cross, something so cruel and involving unimaginable suffering, has come our most precious and most valuable gift: our salvation.

We may not fully understand how the suffering of Christ on the cross translates into our salvation. We may not fully understand how the giving up of God’s only Son grants us eternal life, yet we approach the cross with reverence every Good Friday singing, “Behold the wood of the cross, on which is hung our salvation, O come let us adore.”

For us Christians the cross is not a sign of torture and death, but rather a sign of hope and salvation. Through his resurrection, Christ redeemed his horrible Roman execution, so the cross no longer represents what it did for the Romans. The cross is now the sign of our salvation.

A priest I know told me how when he was recently ordained in Mexico years ago he made a communion call to an elderly lady. Next to the chair where she spent most of the day she had a large, gruesome crucifix. The priest was taken aback by its gory detail and wondered how this woman could ever come to know a loving God if she kept this crucifix at her side. He told the elderly lady that Jesus had risen and that there was no need to have such a depiction of him. Jesus loved her and didn’t want her to see him depicted this way.

The woman looked at the priest dismayed and responded,” Father, if I didn’t see this crucifix every day, I would lose all hope. By looking at this crucifix I know that my God loves me deeply because he has suffered like I suffer. This crucifix makes me look forward to eternal life.”

When confronted with the mystery of suffering in our own lives, we are called to exalt the cross of Christ by recognizing that our God comes to walk with us in our suffering, and that just as He rose from the tomb transforming the suffering of the cross into the glory of the resurrection, He will do the same in our lives.

We exalt the cross recognizing that the Paschal mystery, the death and resurrection of Christ, continues to unfold before us in our own lives and the lives of those around us. The cross encourages us to continue confidently, trusting that though we walk in the dark valley, the Lord is at our side. We must make our own the words of an early Christian hymn: Ave Crux Spes Unica: Hail the Cross, Our Only Hope.

As we remember the death and resurrection of Christ at this Eucharist, may our exalting of the cross bring us hope and salvation. As Christ gives himself to nourish us with his body and blood, may we be filled with hope just like the early Christians at Santa Sabina and the elderly Mexican woman. We must never run away from the cross, but answer Jesus’ invitation to exalt it and enter into the mystery of his death and resurrection.

Homily

Uncategorized

Previous Post

September 13, 2014

Recordando el 11 de septiembre

Next Post

September 16, 2014 Today: Mexican Independence Day

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Article Catholic Lima Christmas Commentary History Homily Immigration martyrs Meditation Pope Reflection Saint Story Uncategorized

Select a Month September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 January 2010 June 2009 September 2008 August 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who had a colorful coat from his father?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Joseph Isaac David Daniel