Numbers 21:4-9 / Philippians 2:6-11 / John 3:13-17
This feast is called in Greek Ὕψωσις τοῦ Τιμίου Σταυροῦ (literally, "Raising Aloft of the Precious Cross"). In Latin it is called Exaltatio Sanctae Crucis (literally, "Raising Aloft of the Holy Cross").
Red vestments are worn for this feast, the same colour that is worn on Good Friday.
Good Friday commemorates the Passion of Christ and His death on the cross. Christ was nailed to the cross and flaunted before the face of God.
If it had all ended there, then evil would have triumphed because God did nothing to save His Son from evil.
Yes, God did not save Jesus from death, but God saved Jesus out of death (Hebrews 5:7).
And through the Resurrection, the cross of death has now become the cross of triumph over sin and death.
Yes, the holy and precious Cross is now raised aloft for the Church and for all the world to see.
For in the Cross is life and love, forgiveness and healing, redemption and salvation.
We must kneel before the Holy Cross and venerate it for it protects us and the powers of evil and darkness cower and flee before it.
Let us also pray with the Cross so that we will faithfully and courageously follow Jesus in His way of the Cross and finally we glory with Him in the Cross.