The Exaltation of the Holy Cross John 3: 13-17 For God So Loved the World
Today, as we celebrate the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, we are invited to look at the cross as a sign, not of defeat, but as the very place where God’s love shines most brightly.
We do understand the pains of the cross, because we carry it in our daily lives: in our illnesses, in our disappointments, in the burdens that seem too heavy for our shoulders. Often, we are tempted to see only its harshness, its weight, its cruelty. And it is true—the cross was an instrument of torture, of humiliation, of shame. Jesus accepted this suffering, not because he loved pain, but because he desired to have a share in human suffering.
But today’s feast helps us look beyond remaining gazing at Christ’s agony. We are invited to see what God has done through the cross. What was once a symbol of death, that once crushed lives under its weight, now lifts us up, because now, from the one who hung on the cross flows reconciliation, peace, and eternal life.
Obedience and humility of Christ lead to exaltation. In the mystery of the cross, humiliation is transformed into glory, weakness into strength, and abandonment into communion. The cross is no longer the end of the story; rather, it is the beginning of hope.
I have come across parents who, after walking with a child through years of suffering and then losing that child, struggle to live differently. They keep the house exactly as it was, visit the cemetery constantly, and allow grief to shape every part of their lives. Other children in the family often suffer too, growing up in an atmosphere where joy seems forbidden.
These are the people who are most in need of discovering the meaning of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross: that the cross does not only burden us—it lifts us up. It does not crush, but carries and exalts us.
This is why Christians can look upon the cross not with despair, but with trust. When we trace the sign of the cross on our bodies, we are not just making a gesture; we are proclaiming that love is stronger than sin, stronger than death. We are saying with faith: “Lord, I believe in Your love that saves me.”
And this is where John’s Gospel takes us: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life” (John 3:16). The cross is the measure of God’s love. It tells us that we are never abandoned, never forgotten. God has entered into the darkest places of our human condition so that no darkness can overcome us.
Brothers and sisters, let us learn to gaze upon the cross with eyes of faith. Let us bring our wounds, our sins, our fears to the cross, and allow Christ to transform them, because our faith teaches us that beyond every Good Friday, there is Easter morning.
The cross does not crush us—it carries us. It does not close the story—it opens it to eternal life.
Memorial of Saint John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor of the Church Luke 6: 43-49 Living on Christ, the Rock
Jesus teaches us with a couple of simple images: a tree is known by its fruit; a house stands or falls depending on its foundation. These words touch our lives directly. Fine words, pious gestures, or even good intentions are not enough. What matters are the fruits of our daily life—our deeds, our words, our hidden choices. The Gospel we preach and believe in is credible only when it is visible in our actions.
This is a challenge for Christians today. We cannot convince the world of Jesus and his Gospel with debates or pamphlets, but by showing that the Gospel produces men and women of integrity, mercy, joy, and faithfulness. Christianity shines not in arguments but in lives transformed.
Jesus also reminds us that our words reveal our hearts. What comes out when we speak freely, when we are unguarded? Our words reveal where our treasure truly resides—whether in God or in other possessions. That is why we must allow His Spirit to dwell within us, so that even our casual words carry the fragrance of His presence.
Finally, the parable of the two builders teaches us about foundations. It is easy to build on sand—quick results, little effort. But when storms come, everything collapses. To build on rock requires toil, patience, and sacrifice. Yet this is the only secure foundation: listening to Jesus and putting His words into practice. The long view, not the short one. The way of eternity, not the way of immediate ease.
The storms of life will come for all of us. But if we dig deep, if we root ourselves in Christ, our house will stand. Strong, steady, unshaken. For the foundation is not ourselves, but the Lord who never fails.
Friday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time Or Optional Memorial of the Most Holy Name of Mary Luke 6:39-42 Seeing Clearly with the Eyes of Christ
The words of Jesus in this passage may sound like a series of short sayings, but together they form a clear invitation: look first into your own heart before judging or guiding others.
Jesus says a blind man cannot lead another blind man. How often we try to direct others when our own vision is clouded! This is a call to humility. A disciple cannot go further than the teacher, and so we must choose our guides well—above all, to let Jesus Himself be our Teacher. Only if we follow Him can we help others to walk in the light.
Then comes that image so full of humour and truth: a man with a plank in his eye trying to remove a speck from his brother’s eye. We smile, but we also recognise ourselves. It is easy to see the faults of others, but so difficult to face our own weaknesses. The Gospel tells us: begin with yourself. Let yourself be healed. Allow the Lord to cleanse your sight. Only then will you see clearly enough to help your brother or sister.
This is not an invitation to close in on ourselves, but to grow in authenticity. If we are sincere about our own struggles, we can accompany others with mercy rather than judgment. We discover that everyone is walking a path, at their own pace, in their own way, toward the joy that God desires for them.
Let us ask the Lord today: give us eyes purified by Your mercy, so that we may see ourselves with truth and see others with compassion. Let us become humble guides, not blind ones—disciples who learn from the Master and then share His light.
全属于祢 
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