In our world, arrogance is used to crush the poor and the weak, the exaltation of the Holy Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ is one of the most beautiful feasts of our Catholic Faith. We celebrate the cross as the symbol of redemption, elevated above all things. The cross is our sign of victory as God uses those whom the world considers the weak, the foolish, and insignificant to bring shame to the powerful and the mighty. This feast reminds us that all strength and glory come from God, not from worldly achievements or status. As the Bible says: "God chose what is weak to confuse what is strong" (1 Corinthians 1:27). The cross was the climax of humiliations suffered by Jesus.

The Cross as sign of humiliation

Throughout Antiquity, the cross represented ignominy, contempt, scorn, humiliation and shame for the person who suffered death by crucifixion. The public crucifixion also aimed at undermining any sense of honor that the victim had, increasing the sense of public shame that they were experiencing. In the Old Testament, the cross was seen as a symbol of curse and the one who was executed on the cross was buried the same day (Cf. Deuteronomy 21:23).

From Humiliation to glory

Jesus accepted the cross as the highest expression of God’s love for all of us. (John 3:16). With Christ, the cross changed from a sign of curse and condemnation to a power of redemption. “Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith … endured the cross, disregarding its shame” (Heb. 12:2). By becoming a curse for humanity on the cross, Jesus redeemed believers from the curse of the law. (Galatians 3:13) By accepting the humiliation of the cross, Jesus was assimilated to a thief, an outlaw, a slave, a bandit, a prisoner of war and a political rebel (Cf John 19:12; Mark 15:27). The true cross of our Lord was indeed the climax of all humiliations he suffered in order to forgive the sins of humanity. With the death of Christ on the cross, shame, death, sin and darkness are defeated. The cross has now become the ladder to heaven. Do not be ashamed of the cross. On the eve of the battle of Milvian Bridge, Emperor Constantine had a vision of the Cross, encircled with the words: “In hoc signo vinces – “In this sign you will conquer!”

The paradox of the cross.

For St. John of the Cross, the climax of God’s wisdom and power is revealed through the paradox of the cross, where suffering leads to salvation and spiritual consolation. Today’s first readings exposes such a paradox whereby God asked Moses to make a bronze serpent mounted on a pole so that anyone who had been bitten by a serpent and who looked at that bronze of serpent, was restored to life. This foreshadowed Christ on the cross as St. John will make it clear in his gospel, “And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life." (John 3:14-15). What was a source of death becomes an instrument of healing and salvation. Like the Israelites, we are invited to lift our eye unto the Lord and believe that God transforms even the most deadly circumstances of our lives into life-giving grace. It is by humbling ourselves like Christ and by submitting unto him that, we can receive the life-giving grace that Christ offers us through the cross. Humility and suffering, love and service can exalt us on high (Philippians 2:6-11).

The Cross as the supreme sign of salvation.

In today’s gospel, the Son of man is lifted up on the cross for our salvation. The cross is no longer a sign of humiliation but the supreme sign of salvation. The cross is our bridge to eternal life. Our suffering when embraced with hope can lead to greater joy and triumph. With Christ's death on the cross, our moments of failure, defeat and sufferings when lived with faith can be transformed into great moments of hope and glory. The celebration of today helps us to look at the cross no more as a curse and defeat, but the triumph of God’s love. Shame cannot dominate and triumph over us. With the cross there is a divine reversal. What was meant to humiliate, becomes an instrument of victory. Nothing, not even sin, nor can death overcome the power of God.

Jesus, I trust in you.

Fr. Georges Roger Bidzogo sac

Living the Gospel this week. The sign of the cross.

Just a quick reminder this week about the power of the sign of the cross. Some of us have been shy to do the sign of the cross in public places or even in some other circumstances. If only you consider this simple sign to be the shortest but the strongest expression of your faith, you will change your attitude.

First, the sign of the cross is our profession of our Faith. God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. That is our identity.

Second, the sign of the cross is our protection. It is our weapon and our shield against the enemies.

Finally, the sign of the cross is a short form of prayer. Let’s not be ashamed to do the sign of the cross. It is the sign of our salvation. It is a sign of love, which always demands sacrifice. No wonder St. John Paul II said: “Do not be afraid, then, when love makes demands. Do not be afraid when love requires sacrifice”

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Jesus, I trust in you.

Fr. Georges roger Bidzogo sac