SUNDAY HOMILY FOR THE EXALTATION OF THE CROSS: YEAR C

SUNDAY HOMILY FOR THE EXALTATION OF THE CROSS: YEAR C

HOMILY THEME: GAZING UPON THE CRUCIFIED KING

BY: Fr. Anthony O. Ezeaputa

Num 21 : 4-9, Phil 2:6-11, Jn 3:13-17

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. In the more than two thousand years following the crucifixion of Jesus, the cross has evolved into a fashionable accessory, a stark contrast to its status during the time of Jesus Christ.

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And, sadly, many of us are totally unaware of the spiritual symbolism of the cross and other sacramentals. This disconnect calls for a more profound understanding of its significance not just as a symbol of sacrifice but also as an antidote to our deepest spiritual afflictions.

A woman once visited a jewelry store to buy a cross necklace. The sales assistant presented various options, but none quite fit her expectations. He then suggested, “If you’re looking for something different, we have crosses with a small figure of a man on them,” referring to the crucifix.

Unfortunately, this anecdote highlights a broader trend: crosses, rosaries, medals, and crucifixes are often reduced to fashion accessories rather than revered as sacred signs.

Sacramentals are sacred signs instituted by the Church to prepare the faithful to receive the sacraments fruitfully and to sanctify various aspects of life (Sacrosanctum Concilium, 60). When used with faith and devotion and lived out in a holy manner, sacramentals help deepen our spiritual lives, seek God’s protection and blessing, and grow in holiness, precisely because they are not magical but rather instruments of divine grace (CCC 1671).

But at the time of Jesus, the cross was far from a sacramental or even a fashion accessory. It was an instrument of brutal execution, a public display of the Roman Empire’s power and control. Crucifixion was designed not just to kill but to humiliate and dehumanize its victims, sending a stark warning to anyone who dared challenge Roman authority: “Defy us, and you’ll suffer the same gruesome fate.”

No wonder Saint Paul describes the cross as a “stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles” (1 Corinthians 1:23). To the Jews, a crucified savior was a radical departure from their expectations of a powerful Messiah, while to the Gentiles, it was sheer absurdity—a stark contrast to their ideals of strength and wisdom.

In this context, it’s understandable that a feast day honoring the cross would have been inconceivable during the time of Jesus, given the cultural and religious associations of crucifixion. What, then, are we celebrating today?

We are celebrating the discovery of the True Cross in Jerusalem by Saint Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine. According to tradition, Helena found three crosses near the site of the crucifixion of Jesus and identified the True Cross through a miraculous healing. This discovery led to the construction of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, built over the tomb where the body of Jesus was laid. The church has since become a significant pilgrimage site for Christians around the world, symbolizing hope and redemption.

Above all, we are celebrating today the life-giving power of the cross, the ultimate antidote to our deepest spiritual afflictions. Today’s Gospel reading (John 3:13-17) beautifully illuminates this understanding, drawing a powerful parallel between the bronze serpent and the cross.

In our Gospel reading, Jesus references a pivotal episode from Israel’s journey from slavery in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land. As they traversed the harsh Sinai desert, the Israelites grew hungry and complained to Moses. Despite God’s provision of manna and quail, they continued to grumble. In response to their persistent grumbling and ingratitude, God sent fiery serpents among them, resulting in many deaths.

When the Israelites repented and begged Moses to intercede with the Lord, God asked Moses to make a bronze serpent, put it on a pole, and hold it up. Those who repented and looked at the bronze serpent were rescued from the fatal bite of the snakes.

Moses’ lifting up of the bronze serpent in the desert is a typological foreshadowing of the “lifting up” of Jesus on the cross. It anticipates the salvation and redemption that His crucifixion would accomplish. Just as the bronze serpent was a life-giving antidote to the deadly venom, whoever “looks” at the Crucified in faith receives something far beyond ordinary life; they receive a share in the eternal life of God.

A powerful example of looking at the crucifix in faith is the experience of Saint Francis of Assisi. Before his transformative encounter with the cross, Francis was known for his love of parties, fine clothes, and a carefree existence. But one day, while praying before the San Damiano Cross, Francis received a profound revelation. He heard a voice saying, “Francis, go and repair my house.” This moment was a turning point in his life, calling him to a deeper devotion to Christ and a life of poverty, simplicity, and service.

Just as the Israelites found healing by gazing upon the bronze serpent after repenting of their ingratitude and grumbling, we too can attain spiritual healing today. Many of us are afflicted with spiritual diseases that threaten to consume us, often stemming from ingratitude and persistent complaining. Nevertheless, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross offers a powerful antidote: gaze upon the Crucified King in faith, appreciate His selfless love for us, and allow that love to transform your lives like Saint Francis of Assisi.

Today’s second reading (Philippians 2:6-11) beautifully captures this selfless love, as Jesus humbles himself and assumes the role of a servant. Similarly, we are invited to empty ourselves of the spiritual afflictions that plague us, such as ingratitude, constant complaining, materialism, pride, and envy. Instead, let’s cultivate their virtuous counterparts: gratitude, contentment, detachment, humility, and charity. By embracing Christ’s example of humility and selflessness, we can grow in holiness and deepen our relationship with God.

As we celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, let us remind ourselves of the spiritual significance of sacramentals; they are not fashion accessories but a reminder of divine presence. Let us use them with faith and devotion.

Let us also reflect on the profound wisdom of the cross, which may seem like foolishness to the world but holds the power to transform and redeem us. May we gaze upon the Crucified King with faith, allowing His love to heal our spiritual afflictions and guide us on the path of eternal life and happiness.

As Saint Paul reminds us, “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). May the cross of Christ continue to be a source of strength, hope, and redemption in our lives, and may we strive to live out the selfless love and humility that it embodies. Amen.

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