Wednesday, September 14, 2011

The Great Sign of Love

Readings for Wednesday, September 14/ Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross:
Numbers 21:4-9
Psalm 78:1-2, 35-38
Philippians 2:6-11
John 3:13-17

This feast in honor of the Cross of Our Lord has it's roots in several historical events, the most notable being the finding of the True Cross by St. Helen in the fourth century. That event is significant, but more significant is the meaning of the Cross and the gift that it is to us. When we hear those familiar words of John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son..." - we quickly realize that the clearest sign of that love is nothing other than the Crucified Lord. The Israelites looked upon the serpent which was 'lifted up' and lived. Today we look not upon a serpent but upon the Lord Himself, Who was also lifted up, and gazing at Him we too are able to live, not simply because we have looked upon Him but because we are pierced to the heart by the Love that is so clearly manifest in that great sign.

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