EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS

Dear Parishioners,

This Sunday we celebrate The Exaltation of the Holy Cross.  It is not a Sunday Mass, but the readings are selected from those that are suggested in the Votive Mass of this Feast.  The last time this Feast of The Exaltation was celebrated on a Sunday, was in 1997.  Occasionally, it is good to explore the images of the proper prayers for the day's Mass.  "We should glory in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, for he is our salvation, our life and our resurrection.  Through Him, we are saved and made free."  The banner we hail is the cross of Christ.  While loyalty to one's country is a laudable quality, we would do well to examine the perspective that places any national flag above the cross, especially in the context of our Faith.

The First Reading tells us that the Israelites were bitten by deadly serpents because they complained against God.  Realizing their sin, they prayed for deliverance.  God showed Moses how to help them.  (Numbers 21:4-9)

In the Second Reading, Paul instructed the Philippians that Christ humbled himself, therefore God has exalted Him.  "At Jesus' name all should proclaim that the Christ is Lord!"  (Philippians 2: 6-11)

St. John's Gospel tells us that Jesus told Nicodemus that God sent the Son so that all who believe in Him will not sin but will live eternally.  He came not to condemn the world, but to save it.  (John 3: 13-17)

The Readings prepare us to live our Christian life as Jesus would have us do.  Are we aware that Jesus expected us to live this life since He gave us the grace to do so since our Baptism?  All of us are Church…...have we rolled-up our sleeves and put our hands on the plow?  Only each person can answer that.

The past several weeks have been busy ones, with the staff of the parish working on the schedule for the year.  As usual, it will be a busy one.  We need many people to help out.  May the Lord help us discern about our active life in the church.