THE TRIUMPH OF THE CROSS
Homily for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross Fr. Ugochukwu Ugwoke, ISch Bible Readings: Numbers 21:4-9; Philippians 2:6-11; John 3:13-17 A little child once saw a huge crucifix hanging in his parish Church and asked his mother, “Why do we keep such a sad picture of Jesus suffering?” The mother replied: “Because when we look at the Cross, we do not only see suffering; we see how much Jesus loves us.” This simple answer contains the mystery of today’s feast: we exalt the Cross not because of the pain it once carried, but because of the salvation it brought. Usually, when we hear the word cross, many images come to mind - burden, suffering, hardship, or even punishment. In Roman times, the cross was the most shameful and brutal instrument of execution, reserved for slaves and criminals. It was meant not only to kill but to humiliate, to strip away every dignity of the condemned. The cross stood for defeat, weakness, and despair. Why then, do we Christians exalt the cross today? Why...
