MONDAY, TWENTY FOURTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Feast of the EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS
Nm 21:4-9 / Phil 2: 6-11 Ps 78: 1-2, 34-38 Jn 3: 13-17
EMBRACE THE CROSS OF HEALING
The cross of Christ is the instrument of our redemption. The Old Testament is sprinkled with many signs and prophecies about Jesus Christ being the Messiah who is to come. Some of these (like Ps 22, Is 53, Zech 12) point to the cross as an instrument of human redemption. But it is also a symbol of our healing. The story of Moses raising the bronze serpent in the desert as a source of healing for the Israelites (Num 21:4-9) is a foreshadowing symbol of the cross of Christ that brings healing to anyone who turns to it.
It is only common sight that people turn to God they need healing, but there is more to this. We recognize from the life and words of Jesus, that He is not just giving us a quick fix to our problems. He is actually inviting us into a brand-new way of life. A life that places the cross at the center. A life that is lived leaning on and embracing the cross, like Christ himself. Only when we understand and believe that the cross is the instrument of our healing can we truly embrace it. If not, we spend our whole lives running away from it, blaming God for all that is part of our life, and never being able to see the hand of God at work in the challenges life throws at us.
God’s love for us is shown in Him sending His Son to lead us and teach us this new way of life. If we run away from the cross, we indeed run away from Jesus. We are reminded of Jesus’ own words: “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” (Jn 12:24). The death of Jesus bears fruits even today. The death of the apostles bears fruit even today. The death of the martyrs bears fruit even today. The invitation is open for us to embrace the cross knowing full well that our sufferings will bear fruit, because the cross brings healing and life and redemption.
Response: Never forget the deeds of the Lord!
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