God Gave His Life For our Sake

This Sunday’s gospel is quite familiar for many of us. It is the gospel of John including the chapter 3 verse 16 which says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His Only-Begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
 
This is our reflection this Sunday, God gave His life for our sake.
 
The Exultation of the Cross which we celebrate this Sunday, that is, every September 14, honors Christ's Cross, an instrument made sacred by the Lord's offering of Himself upon it for our salvation. God gave his life for our sake through the cross, a symbol of God’s saving love for all, God’s ultimate act of love.
 
But during the time of Jesus, the cross was a symbol of defeat, never a victory and pride as we now proclaim. Those times, people would see the cross as a symbol of weakness, of loss, and death. That is why no one would ever desire to be associated with the cross.
 
And yet, Jesus showed us the path to salvation – the cross. Jesus knew exactly what it meant to suffer on the cross. He knew what would happen to him. He knew that people  would think of him as a victim rather than a savior, a villain rather than a hero, a false prophet rather than God. Remember, before his death on the cross, people would love calling him their master, even calling Him “Son of God.” People would treat him as their messiah and savior, their King who would rule the kingdom. And perhaps, they were walking to a different direction. 
 
If we look carefully on the words and actions of Jesus, he was repeatedly telling his disciples about suffering, about self-denial, about giving-up oneself for the Kingdom, about death. And yet, they were unattentive. They never understood the lesson. 
 
In many instance when Jesus performed healing and miracles, Jesus seemed to show to his disciples the reality of suffering. But the suffering and pain were never the picture Jesus wanted to understand and recognize but rather the hand of God, his love for His people.
 
This is the GOSPEL or THE GOOD NEWS: “For God so loved the world that He gave His Only-Begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” And this good news is proclaimed throughout the world through the symbol of the CROSS.
 
The cross Jesus, teaches us, is our SALVATION. For through the cross, humanity was saved in Jesus Christ. The cross may just be a symbol, but it brings everything with it the history of our salvation. 
 
We may have our own crosses we bear each day through the sufferings, pain, and trials. Others may have heavier cross that seem too much at times. On the other hand, some people may have a little bit lighter cross in life. But whatever cross we bear, let us remember that in the history of our faith and salvation, God once carried and lifted his cross. He was crucified, died, and buried, but on the third day, He rose again. And now He is alive.
 
If you notice, the image that is hanged in front of the altar of the Church is never the resurrected Christ, but rather the crucified Christ. The Church sees that it is important for every Christian believer that the way to life and salvation is the CROSS, for by the Cross God gave himself for our sake because of His love. 
 
Let us always remember today to bear our crosses, and our salvation is at hand.

by Fr. Rockmoore Saniel, OMI