Sunday:       Triumph of the Cross
Date:         September 14, 2007
Year:         C
The readings: [Numb. 21:4-9 or Phil. 2:6-11; Jn. 3:13-7]
The message:  Honouring the work of Christ.
Prepared by:  THE CATHOLIC DOORS MINISTRY
Total words:  922

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Today, we are celebrating the Feast of the "Triumph of the Cross." This liturgical Feast, formally known as the "Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross," honours the work of Christ.

During today's homily, I would like to begin by presenting a brief summary of the origin of this special Feast.

According to Church documents, the Feast of the "Triumph of the Cross" has been celebrated since the early days of the Catholic Church. In regards to the Holy Cross itself, when the Body of Jesus was removed from it, to prevent His followers from finding it, the Cross was thrown in a ditch or well, and then covered with stones and earth.

In 312 A.D., while Constantine the Great, who had not yet converted to Christianity, was in combat with Maxentius for the throne of the Roman Empire, he prayed to the Lord God of the Christians to help him in his battle. In answer to his prayer, a sign appeared in the sky. A luminous cross was seen with the words "IN THIS SIGN YOU WILL CONQUER" inscribed on it.

Following this, Constantine won the battle over Maxentius. Indebted to God for his victory at the Milvian Bridge on October 28, 312, Constantine commanded that the Sign of Christianity be placed on the Roman standards and on the shields of all the soldiers.

Then, on September 14, 326, St. Helena found in Jerusalem the True Cross on which Jesus was crucified. To commemorate the finding of the Holy Cross, Constantine dedicated two Churches upon Calvary, "Anastasis" and "Colgotha," both within the precincts of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Beginning in those days, the Feast of the "Exaltation of the Holy Cross" was commemorated annually on May 3 rd.

In 614, Chosroes II, the King of Persia, invaded Syria and Palestine, at which time he carried away many of the great treasures of Jerusalem, including the relic of the True Cross. In 629, Emperor Heraclius of Constantinople marched into Persia and recapture the True Cross, seeing to it that Heraclius piously bring it back to Jerusalem while being clothed in sackcloth of penance and barefoot. On September 14 th, the Sacred Cross was restored to its place in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

To commemorate this victory, in the 7 th century, the Church of Rome adopted the "Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross" on September 14 th.

One may wonder, why do we give so much honour to the Holy Cross. Over and above being the symbol of Christianity, the Holy Cross brings to light many fundamental truths that are being taught by the Holy Catholic Church.

First of all, the Lord Jesus in who the fullness of God was pleased to dwell bodily [Col. 1:19, 2:9] did not regard Himself equal with God during the incarnation. Setting aside His infinite power, He took upon Himself the human nature and humbled Himself in full obedience to the heavenly Father, even to His death on the Cross.

Through His perfect sacrifice as the Lamb of God, He was exalted and given the Most Holy Name that is above all names so that at the Name of Jesus, every knee should bend in Heaven, on earth, and under the earth, that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Because of this, the Holy Cross is the symbol of Divine Love. For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son.

The Holy Cross is the symbol of salvation. Through Jesus Christ and the Sacrament of Baptism, those who believe in Him and obey His teachings, they will enjoy eternal life in the Kingdom of God.

The Holy Cross is the symbol of Divine compassion. God did not send His Son into the world to condemn it, but in order that the world may be saved through Jesus.

All of this was foreshadowed in the days of Moses. When God's chosen people became impatient in the desert and spoke against God and Moses, the Lord sent poisonous serpents among them. Many of the Israelites died when they were bitten by these serpents.

In Divine love and compassion that embraces forgiveness, the Lord God told Moses to make a poisonous serpent of bronze and to put it upon a pole. Whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live, this being a prophetic picture of salvation through living faith in Christ.

The history of the Holy Cross, its recapture in 629 A.D., reveals to us the Divine power of God that is behind this most Sacred object on which the Blood of Christ was shed for the sins of mankind.

While there are many religions in the world and our separated brothers and sisters do not see eye-to-eye with the teachings of the Holy Catholic Church, yet, there is one thing that all these religions agree upon. All of them believe that salvation comes through the Blood of Jesus that was shed on the Holy Cross. All honour the Holy Cross as being a most Sacred object. If one was to try and find a Christian religion that does not have the Holy Cross as its symbol of faith, he would be facing an impossible task.

Everywhere we look, the symbol of the Holy Cross is present to remind us of the infinite sacrifice that the Lord Jesus did for our redemption. The sign of the Cross is found in the Sacred Liturgy. The Cross is in all Christian festivals. It is in the Rite of Adoration. It is the symbol of blessing. It is found in the dedication of Churches, in the Schools, the homes, Hospitals, Seminaries, Convents, Religious Order, Crusades and even in cemeteries.

Today, as we continue with the celebration of the Holy Mass, let us look up to the Holy Cross as our symbol of faith and salvation. Let us always honour the work of Christ that was manifested through the Holy Cross, the true symbol of love, compassion and forgiveness.

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The readings...

[The readings were taken from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible (C) 1989 Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Church of Christ in the United States of America.]

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First Reading...

"As they journeyed across the desert, the Israelites left Mount Hor by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; but the people became impatient on the way. The people spoke against God and against Moses, 'Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we detest this miserable food.'

Then the Lord sent poisonous serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, 'We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord to take away the serpents from us.' So Moses prayed for the people.

And the Lord said to Moses, 'Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live.' So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live." [Numb. 21:4-9]

Or...

"Though Christ Jesus was in the form of God, he did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death - even death on a cross.

Therefore God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." [Phil. 2:6-11]

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Gospel Reading...

"Jesus said to Nicodemus: 'No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may ave eternal life.

Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.'" [Jn. 3:13-7]

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