Over two hundred years ago, during the War of 1812, on the night of September 13, 1814, the British fleet bombarded Fort McHenry in the harbor at Baltimore, Maryland. Francis Scott Key, 34 years old, a lawyer, author and poet, watched from the deck of a ship. The next morning, September 14, 1814, Key used his telescope to check the damage to the fort and was relieved to see the American flag still waving.
The sight of the flag inspired him to author the poem that eventually became known as The Star-Spangled Banner, the national anthem of the United States of America. Some interpret the anthem as a song of violence, while others look upon it as a hymn of hope.
Over two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ was crucified on a cross. Today, we commemorate The Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. It is somewhat strange that we celebrate a feast that exalts the cross. Historically, it was the primary instrument of execution that the Romans used in the time of Christ to kill criminals. So, is the cross a sign of violence or a symbol of hope?
The cross is ambiguous. It gives off mixed signals. Remember what the cross meant to ISIS? Or how the Ku Klux Klan used it? Or how it is interpreted by atheists, agnostics or those actively hostile to Jesus?
The cross is a paradox. Through the suffering and death of Jesus Christ, we receive forgiveness, grace and eternal life. The seemingly powerlessness of Christ dying on the cross is actually the source of our salvation.
The cross is a decoration. We hang crosses in our homes, wear them as jewelry, have one on our rosary and often include one on a gravestone. The crucifix is required in every Catholic church.
The cross is a sign. We Catholics sign ourselves with the cross as we begin all our prayers. We sign ourselves with holy water as we enter or leave our worship space, reminding ourselves that we are baptized in the death and resurrection of Jesus. We are blessed with the sign of the cross at the end of Mass.
The cross is a mystery of God’s love. A love so great that God sent His only begotten son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life. With the death of Jesus on the cross, the cross has become a sign of love and hope. That is why we exalt the cross.
On this Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, ask yourself, “Have I become so familiar with the cross and with crucifixes that I take them for granted? Have I forgotten the historical event, that Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross for my sake?”
God’s love for us is not an abstract sentiment but rather a tangible reality. God’s love for you and me is clearly expressed in the cross. A sign I once saw outside a church stated the truth, “God so loved the world that he didn’t send a committee.”
If you watch a football game this weekend, you will probably see some person in a crazy outfit and wig holding a sign saying, “John 3:16.”
This is the verse that sums up God’s nature, which is love. It sums up God’s plan, which is for everyone to have eternal life.
“For God so loved the world that He gave up His only begotten Son,
so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life.”
Twenty-nine little words, count them for yourself. Brief enough to memorize yet strong enough to change the meaning of life itself.
“9-11,” which we commemorated a few days ago, is a number that recalls the violence and terrorism of that tragic day in 2001. Conversely, “3:16” has been the verse of hope for over 2000 years.
When we face acts of violence, terrorism or war, we may ask why a loving God would let disasters happen? Why doesn’t God stop it? Why does God allow evil to take place?
To say simplistically that such evil and destruction is God’s will insults God and insults those who are suffering as a result of someone’s evil acts. God gave us free will. He allows us to choose the divine will of God or to choose evil.
And, yes, we try to choose God’s divine will, yet sometimes you and I go against God’s divine will, and we cause evil, suffering and pain.
The hope is that we continue to heal from violence, terrorism or evil acts because of our belief in John 3:16 and that we promote healing for others.
The story is told of a grandfather who was talking to his grandson about an act of evil that he experienced. Looking at his grandson, the grandfather said, “I feel like I have two wolves fighting inside of me. The first wolf is filled with anger and hatred, bitterness and revenge. The second wolf is filled with love, kindness, hope and forgiveness.
“Grandpa, which wolf do you think will win?” asked the grandson.
The grandfather responded, “Whichever one I feed.”
Our first reading from the Book of Numbers was another sign of the cross from our Lord. The bronze serpent held up in the air by Moses brought healing. The Gospel of John compares Moses lifting up that bronze serpent in the desert to the lifting of Jesus on the cross.
And in the words of St. Paul to the Philippians in our second reading, we hear how Jesus emptied himself, taking the form of a slave and accepting the cross of suffering and death to be one with us.
The Cross: Today, we are called to exalt it because of Jesus Christ who died so horrifically as a common criminal.
Let’s personalize John 3:16 by substituting the word “me” for “world” and replacing “everyone” with our “I” or your own name:
“For God so loves me that He gave up His only begotten Son,
so that I who believe in Him might not perish but might have eternal life.”
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