Numbers 21:4-9 / Philippians 2:6-11 / John 3:13-17
Today's feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
is called by various names: "Raising Aloft
of the Precious Cross", or "Raising Aloft of the Holy Cross".
By whichever name it is called, 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 hide 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.