Numbers 21:4-9 / Philippians 2:6-11 / John 3:13-17
Two pieces of wooden sticks may not have much meaning, other than resembling like chopsticks.
But two pieces of wooden sticks placed at right angles to each other, may mean something, especially to Christians.
When two pieces of wooden sticks are placed at right angles to each other, it may look like a “plus” sign.
But for Christians, it will look like the easily identifiable Christian symbol of the Cross.
The symbol of the Cross is the most common, as well as the most profound symbol of Christianity.
It is also a sacred symbol, and it can be found on items and objects used for worship and for prayer.
The symbol of the Cross is sacred primarily because Jesus Christ died on it.
By His suffering and death on the Cross, Jesus saved us from our sins and conquered sin and death.
The Cross which was meant to be an instrument of pain and death has become a sign of salvation because of Jesus Christ.
Today, we the Church celebrates the triumph and exaltation of the Holy Cross.
We proclaim Jesus is our Saviour, and we also obey His command to take up our cross and follow Him as His disciples.
But the 1st reading gives a rather puzzling account of a bronze serpent on a standard.
Preceding that, the people had spoken against God and Moses, and so as punishment, fiery serpents appeared and their bite caused suffering and death.
The people repented, and asked Moses to intercede for them to the Lord to save them.
The Lord instructed Moses to make a bronze serpent and put it on a standard.
Anyone who was bitten by a fiery serpent would just have to look at the bronze serpent on the standard and be saved.
It is rather puzzling because the very thing that caused death has now become a means of salvation.
That account in the 1st reading can be rather puzzling, but in it is the hidden mystery of the ways of God.
Because in the gospel, when Jesus said that He must be lifted up just as Moses lifted up that bronze serpent, then that mystery is revealed.
Jesus was lifted up on the Cross, and He fulfilled His mission as the Saviour, and the Cross has now become a symbol of salvation.
A priest was sharing this story about the saving power of the Cross.
A young man was disillusioned about his Christian faith, and so he went to a priest to say that he wanted to renounce his faith, and to have his baptism records revoked.
The priest looked at the young man and told him that he will do as requested, on one condition.
He asked the young man to follow him to the church, and there was a big crucifix behind the altar.
The priest said to a young man, “Look at Jesus on the Cross and say this: You died for me and I don't care.
The young man looked at the priest, and then looked at the Crucifix, and so he said, “You died for me and I don't care.”
The priest said to him, “Say that again with more conviction.”
So, the young man said that again, “You died for me and I don't care.”
The priest said, “Look straight at Jesus and say that again.”
The young man said that again, but his voice began to quiver, and he lowered his eyes.
The priest then said to the young man, “I would like to leave you alone for now. You can come to see me again anytime.”
The priest who was sharing that story concluded with this: By the way, I was that young man.
The saving power of the Cross is a deep and profound mystery.
Because the Cross is the symbol of the love of God for us.
God loved us so much that He gave us His only Son, so that we can be saved from our sins and have eternal life.
So, let us take up the Cross, let us look at Jesus on the Cross.
Let us hold the Cross, for we are holding the hand of our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Let us hold the Cross, in our pain, in our suffering and in our distress, for we are holding the hand of our Healer Jesus Christ.
Let us hold the Cross, and look at Jesus on the Cross and say:
Thank you, Jesus, for saving me. Help me to love You.