The word ‘exaltation’, as in the ‘exaltation of the Cross’ literally means, to bring to light. The Christian is charged with bringing the Lumen Crucis, the light of the cross, to the world.
Even the finding of the True Cross by St. Helen underscores this mission. St. Helen, mother of the Emperor Constantine was on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. St. Helen found the True Cross buried underneath a Temple to the Pagan Goddess Venus which had been built over Mount Calvary, the place of crucifixion. The cult of Venus was a cult of sex and pleasure, seeking worldly pleasures in this life. The cult of the Cross on the other hand, seeks not the fulfillment of worldly pleasure in this life, but the life of sacrifice in order to attain eternal life.
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me,” says the Lord.
The Gospel today refers to the Old Testament story of the serpent being lifted up in the desert. The Lord commanded that this strange, poisonous death dealing snake be lifted up for the people to see and be healed. So, too, the Christian is charged to lift up the strange, death dealing cross for all the world to see to be a sign of the ultimate healing that comes through following Christ.
In light of this feast, we are reminded of the need to take up our cross every day in order to follow Christ, whom we love. We do that by detaching from the earthly objects and pursuits which demand we love Christ less, the earthly interests which keep us from prayer and Christian service.
St. Anthony of Padua in a sermon on the cross said: “You cannot better appreciate your worth than by looking into the mirror of the Cross of Christ; there you will learn how you are to deflate your pride, how you must mortify the desires of the flesh, how you are to pray to your Father for those who persecute you, and to commend your spirit into God’s hands.”
The light of the Cross shows us the love God has for us, and by taking up our own crosses, embracing self-sacrifice, service, mortification, and penance for the sake of the kingdom, we show that it is by the light of the cross, not the light of worldly values and pleasures, that we are made worthy of the kingdom of heaven.
May we exalt the cross in all way say and do, and by it be exalted, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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That the Church may lift high the Cross of Christ, proclaiming forgiveness and redemption in him alone, we pray to the Lord...
That world leaders may look upon the Son of God, believe in him, and take hold of the peace and justice that only he can bring, we pray to the Lord...
That all whose lives are marked by suffering may discover the saving power of the cross of Christ, and be victorious in all their trials, we pray to the Lord...
That those who embrace the cross as they work for justice for the poor, the oppressed, and the unborn, may find strength and success in their work, we pray to the Lord…
That the sick may be blessed with patience during the difficult parts of their journey in life, we pray to the Lord...
That all who have died may experience the eternal life won by the cross of Christ, especially the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, for Father Robert Wendelken on the anniversary of his death, and for N. for whom this Mass is offered, we pray to the Lord...
Almighty ever-living God, comfort of mourners, strength of all who toil, may the prayers of those who cry out in any tribulation come before you, that all may rejoice, because in their hour of need your mercy was at hand. Through Christ our Lord. (From Good Friday Petitions)
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