9/14/2017 - Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross of Jesus - homily for Thursday of the 23rd week in Ordinary Time - Numbers 21:4B-9, John 3:13-17, Philippians 2:6-11

    Today’s feast of the exaltation of the holy cross was first observed in Rome in the 7th century.  This feast commemorates the recovery of the actual cross on which Jesus had been crucified, which had been placed on Mt. Calvary by St. Helena and preserved in Jerusalem, but then had fallen into the hands of the King of the Persians.  It was recovered and returned to Jerusalem by Emperor Heralius in 629.

       It is said that Heraclius carried the cross back to Jerusalem on his shoulders.  He wore costly garments with ornaments of precious stones on them to show the respect and value he placed on the cross. But, at the entrance to Mt. Calvary a strange incident occurred.  No matter how hard he tried, the Emperor couldn't move forward.  Bishop Zacharias of Jerusalem told him: "Consider, that with these triumphal ornaments you are wearing, you are far from resembling Jesus carrying His Cross."   The Emperor then put on a penitential garment and was able to continue his journey and move forward.

      In the Roman empire, the cross represented the worst possible way a criminal could be put to death.  It was a violent, painful, disrespectful death.  By contrast, our mass commemorating the exaltation of the holy cross is a triumphant liturgy.   When Moses lifted up the bronze serpent over the people in the middle of the desert on their way to the promised land, it foreshadowed the cross and the salvation we would receive through Christ’s death and resurrection.  The message of our faith is that we must take up our own crosses in order to follow Jesus, our Lord and Savior. To follow Christ, we must take up his cross, we must follow him and become obedient until death. We identify with Christ on the cross.  We share in his cross and his sufferings.  We unite our sufferings to his.  Jesus carried his cross in obedience and servanthood.  We are called to do the same. For us Catholics, the cross is an important symbol of our faith.  When we are baptized, we are sealed with the cross as our original sins are taken away, as we die with Christ in the waters of baptism and as we receive new life in him. We make the sign of the cross as we begin and end our prayers, consecrating ourselves to God.  We make the sign of the cross at the beginning of mass to begin our celebration in the name of our Lord.   During our trials and sufferings, the cross is there give us strength and protection and hope.  O cross of Christ, you are the glorious sign of victory.  Through the power of the cross, may we all share in the triumph of Christ Jesus.