The Exaltation of the Holy Cross – Sunday 14th September

Have you ever pondered why Christ, the pure embodiment of Love, had to endure the Cross? Could there have been another way? Perhaps the answer lies in the very nature of love. True love isn’t simply about joys and comforts; it’s also about sacrifices, about giving without counting the cost. The Cross, in its raw, unfiltered brutality, became the canvas upon which the greatest love story was painted.

‘For God so loved the world…’ These aren’t mere words, but a profound declaration. It’s as if Love itself, in its infinite wisdom, chose the Cross to prove its depth. In the eyes of the world, the Cross may appear as a symbol of humiliation, but in the eyes of faith, it’s the ultimate symbol of love.

Jesus’s conversation with Nicodemus in today’s Gospel is a profound one. He speaks of belief, of eternal life, of   salvation. It’s a reminder that the Cross is not the end but a bridge – a bridge to resurrection, to eternal life.

But there’s another layer here: a call to action for each of us. How often do we lift our personal crosses? Do we see them as burdens or as bridges to a deeper communion with Christ? Just as the bronze serpent brought healing, can our crosses, when united with Christ’s, bring about transformation within us?

Today, let us gaze upon the Cross, not with sorrow but with gratitude. For in its shadow lies the promise of hope, the assurance of love, and the path to eternal life. In a world often marred by hatred and division, may the exalted Cross remind us of the lengths Love will go to  embrace and heal us all.