Daily Catholic Lectio
Sat, 14 Sep 2024
XXIII Week in Ordinary Time, Saturday
Numbers 21:4-9 (or) Philippians 2:6-11. John 3:13-17
Exalted vulnerability
The Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, celebrated today, has deep historical and theological significance in the Christian tradition. It commemorates the discovery and veneration of the True Cross, upon which Jesus was crucified, as well as the broader theological meaning of the cross as the ultimate symbol of Christ’s victory over sin and death.
A. Historical Background
(1) Discovery of the True Cross: In the early 4th century, St. Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine the Great, embarked on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Around 326 AD, she is believed to have discovered the True Cross at the site of Jesus’ crucifixion, Golgotha. According to tradition, three crosses were found, and the one believed to be the True Cross was identified when a dying woman was healed after touching it.
(2) The Dedication of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre: After St. Helena’s discovery, Emperor Constantine ordered the construction of two basilicas on the site of the crucifixion and resurrection—one at Golgotha and the other at the site of Jesus’ tomb, now known as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The dedication of these churches in 335 AD marked the first celebration of the Exaltation of the Cross.
(3) The Recovery of the Cross from the Persians: In 614 AD, the True Cross was captured by the Persian Empire during an invasion of Jerusalem. It remained in Persian hands until 628 AD when the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius recaptured it. Tradition holds that Heraclius personally carried the cross back to Jerusalem, where it was again exalted and venerated.
B. Theological Significance
The Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross is not just a historical commemoration but a deep reflection on the theological meaning of the cross in Christian life:
(1) The cross as a symbol of Christ’s victory: The cross, which was once a symbol of humiliation and death, was transformed by Christ into the sign of victory over sin and death. On this feast, we are called to meditate on the paradox of the cross: how an instrument of suffering became a symbol of redemption.
(2) The cross as the path to glory: The cross is a reminder that suffering and sacrifice, when united with Christ, lead to resurrection and eternal life. In exalting the cross, the Church exalts the path of self-emptying love that Christ walked, which leads to true glory.
(3) A call to carry our own crosses: The feast also serves as a call for us to embrace our own crosses, to see our struggles, sufferings, and sacrifices to participate in Christ’s redemptive work. Just as Christ was exalted through His suffering, we too are invited to trust in God’s power to transform our hardships into grace.
C. Vulnerability on the cross
The paradox of the cross is that on it hangs our vulnerability.
(1) The cross as God’s healing remedy
The first reading (Numbers 21:4-9) shows how the Israelites, bitten by serpents due to their lack of faith, are saved by looking at the bronze serpent lifted up by Moses. This foreshadows Christ’s own lifting up on the cross in John 3:13-17, where He is offered as a remedy for sin. Just as the Israelites found healing in something that seemed like a curse (a serpent), we find redemption through Christ’s crucifixion – a symbol of vulnerability and weakness. It is through this vulnerability that God’s love and mercy are exalted, as the very thing that looks like defeat becomes the instrument of salvation.
(2) The cross as the ultimate act of humility
In the alternative reading (Philippians 2:6-11), St. Paul tells us that Christ “emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave” and “became obedient to death, even death on a cross.” The cross reveals the vulnerability of God who chose to become one of us, suffer, and die for our sake. It is in this self-emptying love that Christ is exalted. His humility – descending into human frailty – becomes the path to glory, showing us that in our weakness, we too can share in His exaltation. True power is not in domination but in humble, sacrificial love.
(3) The cross as the path to new life
In the gospel reading, we hear the familiar words: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son.” The cross is the ultimate expression of this love – a vulnerable gift that brings eternal life to all who believe. The exaltation of the cross reminds us that vulnerability and suffering, when embraced with faith, lead to resurrection and new life. We are called to embrace our own crosses, trusting that God transforms our suffering and weakness into opportunities for grace and redemption.
The cross stands as a paradox of strength in vulnerability, victory in suffering, and life in death. It is a reminder that God’s greatest power is revealed in what the world sees as weakness. Through the exaltation of the cross, we are invited to follow this path of humble love, trusting that we too will be lifted up in Christ.
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The cross is the symbol of Jubilee 2025 Holy Year in the Local Churches. (Jubilee 2025 AD, bite 199)
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
Missionary of Mercy
Yesu Karunanidhi 
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