Today is the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. In the first reading today from Numbers 21, we see a bit of typology. God told Moses to make a bronze serpent and mount it on a pole. Whenever someone looked at it, they would be healed of their bite from a serpent. This was a foreshadowing of the cross of Christ. In fact, Jesus mentions this very passage in today’s Gospel reading from John 3.
Isn’t it interesting how God works? When the children of Israel were bitten by a serpent, they needed only to look up at the bronze serpent lifted up on a pole and they would be healed. Then, in the course of time, we, when bitten by the serpent (read: the devil) would be able to look up at the Son of Man lifted up on a pole and be healed.
It seems that these days the cross has become so sanitized. But the cross of Christ wasn’t pretty. It was rough, dirty, bloodied. Probably much like the cross that you may be carrying. But that’s OK. Because you are carrying it nonetheless. It may be heavy, and at times seem unbearable. But carry on, my friend! We must remember, whenever we carry our cross, we are imitating Christ Himself. And He will help us carry our cross across the finish line.
Father, we thank you for the cross. For the cross of Christ, and for our own crosses. As Jesus carried His cross, give us the strength to carry ours. Amen.
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