Feast of the Exaltation

 Dear Parishioners,
​
This weekend we celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.  This is assigned to September 14, and when 
the date coincides with a Sunday, the feast day supersedes the usual liturgy of Ordinary Time. 
 
This feast has its roots early in the history of our Church (fourth century), commemorating the discovery of the cross by St. Helen and the dedication of churches at the sites of the crucifixion and the Lords tomb, the current site of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem.  The feast is a powerful reminder of the centrality of the cross in our faith.   
 
The gospels make it clear that Jesus was crucified because his enemies insisted on that particular form of execution  a 
penalty which could only be inflicted by the Romans.  Why?  Because the cross was the most brutal form of execution,
reserved for the scum of the earth.  In that era, to be crucified was seen as being cursed by God.  The opponents of 
Jesus did not merely wish to be rid of him, but to completely discredit him.  Thus, after Jesus breathed his last on that 
ugly cross, they celebrated.  They had  so they mistakenly thought  won.  Jesus had been humiliated and disgraced.  
There was no doubt in their minds that his movement would quickly fade away.  God, of course, had other plans. 
 
This feast day reminds us that it was through the Cross (not in spite of the Cross) that Jesus triumphed.  As the ancient prayer proclaims so simply yet powerfully: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your holy 
cross, you have redeemed the world.  Yes, by means of the Cross, God manifested the awesomeness of divine love and 
mercy, a sacrificial love in which Jesus gave his all for you and for me and for every person who has ever lived.  Let me repeat that  Jesus sacrificed his life for every human being, whatever his or her race or tongue, whatever his or her faith or lack of faith, whatever his or her virtue or vice.  Whenever we denigrate people, whenever we allow prejudice to jaundice our treatment of people or our speech and attitudes about people, we desecrate a child of God, a person who Jesus loves dearly. 
 
Just as it was true that Jesus won his victory over sin and death through the Cross, just as it is true that that it was by his self-emptying that he was exalted, so for you and for me it is through the Cross (not in spite of it) that we find salvation.  When we encounter our own crosses, when we are immersed in suffering or when we share the agony of others who are suffering, this feast can renew our courage and bring us comfort.   
 
You might make it a point to take one of the crosses in your home and put it in an especially prominent place throughout this week as well as schedule a time of family prayer around the cross sometime during these days.  Or you might plan to drop by the church sometime this week to make the stations of the cross (either in the church or using our outdoor stations).   
 
Along with Ken Pulskamp and Alonso Rosado and the other members of our parish finance council, thank you for your gracious attention to last weekends presentation on parish finances. 
 
Don't forget our parish BBQ in two weeks (September 26-28).  Please join us and invite your family and friends.  This 
weekend after all of our Masses you can purchase raffle tickets and sign up to volunteer.   
 
Jesus, crucified and risen Savior, give us a share in your glory.  Holy Mary, Mother of Sorrows, whose heart was pierced as you shared in the Passion of your Son, assist us in our sorrows.   
 
Father Craig