Word to the Wise
Friday, September 14, 2012 - Sept. 14 - The Exaltation of the Holy Cross
[Num 21:4b-9; Phil 2:6-11; John 3:13-17]And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.
It is one of those interesting paradoxes of imagery that a symbol of criminal execution would be become a symbol of salvation! Yet, the cross is the universal symbol of Christian faith. Some friends of mine have a wall in their living room that has a large number of crosses of various sizes and designs. Each cross probably reflects the attitude of its maker. We can't be certain of the actual design of the cross on which Jesus was crucified. It had to be big enough for an adult male of the time. It had to be thick enough to receive nails that would stay put. It had to be long enough to have space for the sign that Pilate put on it. Beyond that, we have imagination and some archaeological evidence of other crosses. Given the large number of splinters in reliquaries around the world that claim to be from the "true cross," one is tempted to think it had to have been very large indeed!
By the time the Gospel of John came to be written, the Christian community had been reflecting on Jesus' death and resurrection for some time. The association of the cross with Moses' action in the desert which saved the people is an example of that reflection. The Gospel of John is the only one of the four to mention nails! Other elements of Jesus' passion are often added to the image, such as the crown of thorns and the spear of the soldier and the inscription that Pilate wrote. It all adds up to a powerful scene when one adds the crowds and the disciples with Mary.
When all is said and done, it is not simply a piece of wood that we remember today. It is what that wood was used for. The death that occurred on that cross was the beginning of life for the church. This feast serves as a reminder to us of why Good Friday is so important. AMEN
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