Weekend Mass

Dear Beloved Family of St. Anselm,

The readings for today's Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross provide rich teachings on the Cross.

I. The Pattern of the Cross – The people had grumbled against God and Moses for the “wretched” manna they had to consume (Numbers 21:5), much like Catholics who treat the Eucharist lightly or find it boring. God sent venomous snakes among them, which caused many to die (Nm 21:6). The people repented and, to bring healing to them, God commanded a strange thing: Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live (Nm 21:8). Why does God do this? 

II. The Palliative Quality of the Cross – In rejecting the Bread from Heaven, they rejected God. So, He made them look upon a serpent, to stir repentance and healing (Nm 21:9). Jesus takes up the theme in today’s 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). There is something about facing our shortcomings, and our anxieties to find healing. In the cross and the sacraments are the means of our salvation and healing.

III. The Paradox of the Cross – In a world dominated by power and its aggressive use, the humility and powerlessness of the Cross accomplish anything but defeat. Yet, the Cross upsets the regular world order. At the heart of today's second reading is the declaration that Christ humbled Himself and became obedient unto death—death on the Cross. But far from being defeated, it exalted Him and brought Him victory. So astonishing is Jesus' humility that it literally undoes Satan's pride and all our collective pride. The great paradox of the Cross makes a public spectacle of every human and worldly presumption.

IV. The Power of the Cross – So must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. The power of the Cross is the power to save. And not only are we saved from the effects of our sins, but we are also empowered to live a whole new life. The word ‘eternal’ does not refer simply to the length of life, but also to its fullness. In the Cross, we are given the gift to live a completely new life, transformed increasingly into the freedom, joy, and blessedness of the same life of Christ. 

V. The Passion of the Cross – And why all this? "For God so loved the world…" Yes, God loves the world. Despite our rebellion and our unbelief, God goes on loving us, not forcing His love upon us but inviting us and giving us every grace to turn and to come to Him. Love invites; it does not force. Love respects the will of the beloved and seeks only the free response of love in return. In the week ahead, may we come to realize that nothing is greater proof of God's love for us than the cross.

Amen.