OT XXIV [C] (Sept 14 2025) (The Exaltation of the Holy Cross) (Nm 21:4b-9; Phil 2: 6-11; Jn 3: 13-17) L/25

Introduction: We celebrate this feast of the Exaltation of the Cross for two reasons: (1) to understand the history of the discovery and recovery of the True Cross and (2) to appreciate better the importance of the symbol and reality of Christ’s sacrificial love, namely, the cross in the daily life of every Christian.

History: The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is one of twelve “Master feasts” celebrated in the Church to honor Jesus Christ, our Lord and Master. This feast is celebrated to memorialize the first installation of the remnants of the true cross of Jesus in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher on Mount Calvary, September 14, AD 335, and its reinstallation on September 14, AD 630. The original cross on which Jesus was crucified was excavated in AD 326 by a team led by St. Helena, the mother of the first Christian Roman Emperor, Constantine. The Emperor built the Church of the Holy Sepulcher on Calvary, it was consecrated on September 14, AD 335, and the remains of the cross were installed in it by Archbishop Maccharios of Jerusalem. After three centuries, the Persians invaded Jerusalem, plundered it of all valuables and took with them the relic of the Holy Cross. In AD 630, Emperor Heraclius II defeated the Persians, recaptured the casket containing the holy relic, and reinstalled it in the rebuilt Church, which was destroyed by Muslims in 1009. The crusaders rebuilt it as the present Church of the Holy Sepulcher in 1149. The largest fragment of the holy cross is now kept in Santa Croce Church in Rome.

The cross immediately became an object of veneration. At a Good Friday celebration in Jerusalem toward the end of the fourth century, according to an eyewitness, the wood was taken out of its silver container and placed on a table together with the inscription Pilate ordered placed above Jesus’ head: Then “all the people pass through one by one; all of them bow down, touching the cross and the inscription, first with their foreheads, then with their eyes; and, after kissing the cross, they move on.”

To this day, the Eastern Churches, Catholic and Orthodox alike, celebrate the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on the September anniversary of the basilica’s dedication. The feast entered the Western calendar in the seventh century after Emperor Heraclius recovered the cross from the Persians, who had carried it off in 614, 15 years earlier. According to the story, the emperor intended to carry the cross back into Jerusalem himself, but was unable to move forward until he took off his imperial garb and became a barefoot pilgrim.

The Scripture readings summarized: The first reading today (Nm 21:4b—9) describes how God healed the complaining Israelites through the brazen serpent. The second reading Phil 2:6-11) reminds us that Jesus, “… humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross,”In today’s Gospel, answering the question raised by Nicodemus, Jesus cites the example of how, when the Israelites were in the desert, the impaled brazen serpent (representing the healing power of God), which God commanded Moses to raise, saved from death the serpent-bitten Israelites who looked at it (Nm 21:4-9). Then Jesus explains how He is going to save the world by dying on the cross.

Gospel Exegesis: The context: In Jn 3:13-17, Jesus explains to Nicodemus that he, the Son of Man, is the one who has come down from heaven and must be “lifted up” like the serpent in the wilderness (Num 21:4-9). This “lifting up” refers to his crucifixion, which is not an end but a means of salvation. Through Faith in him, those who believe can have eternal life, as “God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son….” The passage emphasizes that Jesus came not to condemn the world, but to save it through his sacrifice.

The Son of Man Must be Lifted Up: Jesus connects his impending crucifixion to the Old Testament story of the bronze serpent. Just as Moses lifted up the serpent on a pole so that those bitten by snakes could be healed, Jesus, lifted on the cross, offers healing and eternal life to those who believe in him.

A Paradox of Triumph and Sacrifice: The lifting up of Jesus on the cross is not a defeat, but a triumph. This triumph is a paradoxical event in which suffering and death lead to salvation, demonstrating God’s ultimate love for humanity and the possibility of new life for all who believe.

God’s Love for the World: The passage highlights the depth of God’s love for the world, which He demonstrated by sending His only-begotten Son. This love is not conditional or based on merit, but is a freely given gift from God to each person who chooses to receive it.

Salvation Through Belief:

Eternal life is offered to all who believe in Jesus. This belief is not merely intellectual assent, but a trusting acceptance of Jesus as Lord and Savior, leading the believing, trusting recipient to a transformed life.

Not Condemnation, But Salvation:

Jesus’s purpose is not to condemn the world, but to save it. His coming is an act of mercy and grace, offering redemption from sin and death.

Life messages: 1) We should honor and venerate the cross and carry it on our person to remind ourselves of the love God has for us and the price Jesus paid for our salvation.

2) The cross will give us strength in our sufferings and remind us of our hope of eternal glory with the risen Lord. With St. Paul, we express our belief that the “message of the cross is foolishness only to those who are perishing” (1Cor 1:18-24), and that we should “glory in the cross of Our Lord” (Gal 6:14).

3) We should bless ourselves with the sign of the cross to remind ourselves that we belong to Christ Jesus, to honor the Most Holy Trinity, and to ask the Triune God to bless us, save us and protect us from all danger and evil.

4) The crucifix should remind us that we are forgiven sinners and, hence, we are expected to forgive those who offend us and to ask for forgiveness whenever we offend others or hurt their feelings. (Fr. Tony) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/). L/25

Additional anecdote: The Reluctant Cross-Bearer:  Imagine a young man named David, who, like many, felt the weight of life’s challenges. He saw the cross as a symbol of suffering, a burden he didn’t want to carry. He avoided  anything that resembled sacrifice or hardship, preferring comfort and ease. He saw the cross on others, in their struggles and sacrifices, and felt a sense of resentment towards it, for he believed that this suffering was something imposed upon them not something they would choose.  A Moment of Reflection: One day, during the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, David found himself reflecting on the readings about Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross. He realized that the cross wasn’t just a symbol of pain, but also a symbol of God’s immense love for humanity, demonstrated by Jesus’s willingness to die for our sins. He thought about how Jesus, despite the suffering, embraced the cross as an instrument of salvation.

Embracing the Cross: This realization sparked a change in David. He began to see the cross not as a burden to be avoided, but as a symbol of love and sacrifice that he could embrace. He started to see others’ struggles, and his own as well, not as things to resent, but as opportunities to grow closer to God. He realized that the cross, in its various forms, was a reminder of God’s unwavering presence in his life, even during difficult times. The Transformation: David’s journey wasn’t easy, but with each step, he found strength and peace in embracing the cross. He learned that true joy and fulfillment come not from avoiding suffering, but from uniting with Christ in his suffering and finding strength in his sacrifice. He understood that the exaltation of the Holy Cross is not just a celebration of a historical event, but a call to embrace the cross in our own lives, finding strength, hope, and salvation in its symbolism.

Connecting to the Feast: This story can be used to connect the specific readings of the day to the larger theme of the Exaltation of the Cross, reminding the congregation that the cross is a powerful symbol of God’s love and sacrifice for humanity, and that by embracing it, we can find strength, hope, and salvation in our own lives.

 For additional reflections, click on:1)  https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/video; 2) https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/; 3) https://www.epriest.com/reflections 4) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/exaltation-of-the-holy-cross

Visit my website by clicking on https://frtonyshomilies.com/ for missed or previous Cycle C homilies, 141 Year of Faith “Adult Faith Formation Lessons” (useful for RCIA classes too) & 197 “Question of the Week.” Contact me only at akadavil@gmail.com. Visit https://www.catholicsermons.com/homilies/sunday_homilies  of Fr. Nick’s collection of homilies or Resources in the CBCI website:  https://www.cbci.in.  (Special thanks to Vatican Radio website http://www.vaticannews.va/en/church.html -which completed uploading my Cycle A, B and C homilies in May 2020)  ((Fr. Anthony Kadavil, Fr. Anthony Kadavil, C/o Fr. Joseph  M. C. Pastor, St. Agatha Church, 1001 Hand Avenue, Bay Minette, Al 36507) L/25

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