23RD SATURDAY HOMILY OF ORDINARY TIME (EXALTATION OF THE CROSS) — YEAR B
23RD SATURDAY HOMILY OF ORDINARY TIME (EXALTATION OF THE CROSS) — YEAR B
HOMILY THEME: THE POWER OF THE CROSS
BY: Fr. Obinna Ezeaputa
Num 21:4-9; Psalm 77(78):1-2, 34-38; Phil 2:6-11; John 3:13-17
Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, a feast that has its roots in the early Church. In the 4th century, Emperor Constantine’s mother, St. Helena, discovered the true cross of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem, leading to the construction of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. This feast commemorates that event and the recovery of the cross, symbolizing the triumph of Christianity over paganism.
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The cross represents the central mystery of our faith: the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the redemption of humanity. It’s a symbol of God’s love, mercy, and forgiveness. As St. Paul writes, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18).
In our first reading (Numbers 21:4B-9), we hear the story of the bronze serpent, a symbol of salvation and healing. This story is echoed in our gospel passage (John 3:13-17), where Jesus says, “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” (John 3:14-15). This connection highlights the continuity between the Old and New Testaments, and the cross as the fulfillment of God’s plan of salvation.
In our second reading (Philippians 2:6–11), we hear St. Paul’s hymn to Christ, who emptied himself, took on human form, and humbled himself to death on the cross. This self-emptying love of Christ is the power that saves us and transforms us. It’s a reminder that our God is a God who enters into our human experience, who suffers with us, and who saves us from the depths of our sinfulness.
The cross is not just a symbol of suffering, but of love, redemption, and triumph. It’s a reminder that our salvation is not just a future reality but a present experience, and that God is always with us, even in the midst of suffering.
In a world filled with suffering, injustice, and darkness, the cross shines as a beacon of hope. It reminds us that our God is a God who is not distant or detached, but who enters into our human experience, and who saves us from the depths of our sinfulness.
May the cross of Christ be our boast, our strength, and our guide. May we gaze upon the cross with eyes of faith, and may we find in it the power to transform our lives, our world, and ourselves. Amen.
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