Our first reading deals with the Jewish people in the desert faced with a problem. Do they break the first commandment or look on the image and be cured? The people were in this situation because they complained against God and Moses. They were tired of eating the manna that God sent them twice a day to eat. The Lord allowed serpents to bit them and many died. Thus, they had to look at the image which was in the shape of a cross and be healed. This is the sign of salvation for them as it will be for us after the suffering and death of Jesus.On this feast we are honoring the wood of the cross as a sign of our salvation.
The second reading from St. Paul reminds us of the sacrifice of Jesus and his obedience to the Father to die on the cross and save us from our sins. Paul tells us that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend and give glory to God the Father.
In the Gospel of St. John, we read that famous line: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that every one who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life."We are encouraged to live our lives worthy of redemption. Let us remember this whenever we make the sign of the Cross. God bless all of you. Fr. Tom