For Love, He Died For All!

September 14, 2016. Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. 

Reflection by Rev Fr Oselumhense Anetor (Uromi Diocese) 

For Love, He Died For All!

Numbers 21:4-9; Phil.2:6-11; John 3:13-17

To celebrate such a crude instrument of torture as the cross is almost insanity. But love transforms the crudest of human attitudes. Forget about all the theologising and philosophising. Without the cross, and Jesus who's death changed its meaning from shame to glory, Christianity will be nonsensical. 

In 326, St. Helena, mother of Constantine, discovered the remains of the True Cross of Christ while on pilgrimage to Jerusalem.  Nine years later, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was dedicated in Jerusalem (335) on this day.

Friends, when the people of Israel lost patience with God, and were punished by the bite of fiery serpents, only by looking up at the symbol of their agony were they saved. In like manner, Jesus was raised on the very object of shame, torture and pain, that he might conquer sin and death, for our salvation. He didn't mind that he was God. God loved us so much, that sending His Son to die was an option he willingly accepted. Whenever we look up at the cross today, we do not see shame and disgrace. We do not see sin and death. We see love; divine love unlimited. We see hope! To God be the glory. Amen. 

Good Evening Friends. Happy Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross.