Introit

Collect

O God, who willed that your Only Begotten Son
should undergo the Cross to save the human race,
grant, we pray,
that we, who have known his mystery on earth,
may merit the grace of his redemption in heaven.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Reading  Numbers 21:4b-9

The Israelites set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; but they became impatient on the way. 5 The people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we detest this miserable food.” 6 Then the Lord sent poisonous serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many Israelites died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord to take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. 8 And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live.” 9 So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live.

Responsorial Psalm   Ps 78:1bc-2, 34-35, 36-37, 38

Second Reading. Philippians 2:6-11

Though Christ Jesus was in the form of God, he did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, 8 he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Alleluia        

Gospel  John 3:13-17

Jesus said to Nicodemus: 13 “No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. 16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. 17 “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

Catena Nova

That brazen serpent was hung up as a remedy for the biting serpents, not as a type of Him that suffered for us but, as a contrast. It saved those that looked upon it, not because they believed it to live but because it was killed and killed with it, were the powers that were subject to it, being destroyed as it deserved. And what is the fitting epitaph for it from us? “O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory?” You are overthrown by the Cross. you are slain by Him, Who is the Giver of Life. You are without breath, dead, without motion, even though you keep the form of a serpent lifted up high on a pole. (St. Gregory of Nazianzen)

Do not rejoice in the Cross only in times of peace, preserve the same faith in times of persecution. Do not be a friend to Jesus in times of peace alone, only to become His enemy in times of war. You are now receiving forgiveness for your sins and the spiritual gifts lavishly bestowed by your King so, when war breaks out, fight valiantly for your King. (St. Cyril of Jerusalem)

As we keep this feast, we are lifted up with the crucified Christ, leaving behind us earth and sin so that we may gain the things above. So great and outstanding a possession is the cross that he who wins it has won a treasure. Rightly could I call this treasure the fairest of all fair things and the costliest, in fact as well as in name, for on it and through it and for its sake the riches of salvation that had been lost were restored to us.  Had there been no cross, Christ could not have been crucified. Had there been no cross, life itself could not have been nailed to the tree. And if life had not been nailed to it, There would be no streams of immortality pouring from Christ’s side, blood and water for the world’s cleansing. The legal bond of our sin would not be cancelled, we should not have attained our freedom, we should not have enjoyed the fruit of the tree of life and the gates of paradise would not stand open. Had there been no cross, death would not have been trodden underfoot, nor hell despoiled. Therefore, the cross is something wonderfully great and honorable. It is great because through the cross the many noble acts of Christ found their consummation – very many indeed, for both his miracles and his sufferings were fully rewarded with victory. The cross is honorable because it is both the sign of God’s suffering and the trophy of his victory. It stands for his suffering because on it he freely suffered unto death. But it is also his trophy because it was the means by which the devil was wounded and death conquered; the barred gates of hell were smashed, and the cross became the one common salvation of the whole world. (St. Andrew of Crete)

Let us then learn from the Cross of Jesus our proper way of living. Should I say ‘living’ or, instead, ‘dying’? Rather, both living and dying. Dying to the world, living for God. Dying to vices and living by the virtues. Dying to the flesh, but liv­ing in the spirit. Thus in the Cross of Christ, there is death and in the Cross of Christ there is life. The death of death is there and the life of life. The death of sins is there and the life of the virtues. The death of the flesh is there and the life of the spirit. (St. Aelred of Rievaulx)

O wise Love, what a remedy you prepare so that universal ruin be filled. Oh, what a plaster you apply to cure the wound of all.  O Love, your counsel is help for those who are lost.   You condemn the blameless man to save the miserable culprit. You pour out innocent blood to be able to placate enraged justice and to ransom the motto is relief for those who are miserable.   You plead the cause of peace. You heed the importuning mercy. By your prudent counsel you bring help for the anxiety of all through the most gracious will of your clemency.   You impose an end to universal misery through the glorious work of your mercy. O Love, what you have devised is the opportunity for salvation for those who are lost.  (St. Gertrude the Great of Helfta)

How precious the gift of the Cross, how splendid to contemplate! In the Cross there is no mingling of good and evil, as in the tree of paradise; it is wholly beautiful to behold and good to taste. The fruit of this tree is not death but life, not darkness but light. This tree does not cast us out of paradise but opens the way for our return. (St. Theodore the Studite)

Innumerable crowds have lovingly, obediently, walked in the footsteps of Christ, treading a long tragic way that leads from earth to the very throne of God and into God’s Kingdom. They walk on, following Jesus, crowd after crowd, and with innumerable kinds of crosses—some of them fashioned by the sin or malice of fellow Christians. In this way, the disciples of Christ are crucified….Are we standing and looking, watching this long procession, this throng of people with shining eyes and with hope unquenched and yet with unfaltering love, or are we joining them? They seem to have an unbelievable joy in their hearts as they pass by us, but why? Isn’t it our turn to join all these and find the answer? Aren’t we to take up our cross and follow Christ and all those who love him? Christ has commanded us to follow him. He is inviting us to the celebration, the party of parties, that is his Kingdom. Is this a nightmare? How can flesh and blood endure what seems a tragedy, and is? We can because Christ is Risen! We don’t see the Christ who walks before us as his tormentors saw him, as a defeated prophet. We know him even now to be in glory. We know his every word and promise is true. We know that the Kingdom of God is ours if we simply follow him. Each day we are given the grace to make that decision. (Anthony Bloom)

Homily (St. John Chrysostom)

“We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles, but to those who are called—Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God.” (1 Cor. 1:23–24) 

Behold the wood of the Cross—not a symbol of shame, but the banner of victory.

Once it was the instrument of execution, now it is the tree of life.
Once it was a curse, now it is a crown.
Once it held the condemned, now it holds the King.

This Cross—this holy and precious wood—was not chosen by accident.
By a tree we fell; by a tree we rise.
The Cross is the reversal of Eden, the answer to death, the glory of the Church.

It is from this altar, not made by human hands, that the Blood of the Lamb was poured—not in symbol, but in truth.
By this Blood, demons tremble, sins are forgiven, and hell is plundered.

What did Christ do upon the Cross?
He embraced it. He ascended it willingly, like a priest to His altar.
He did not cry out for escape, but for mercy.
He said not “Destroy them,” but “Father, forgive them” (Luke 23:34).

O wisdom beyond understanding!
What the devil thought was victory, God turned into eternal defeat.
He caught Satan with his own weapon: pride.
He broke death by death.
He conquered sin by becoming sin for us (2 Cor. 5:21).

Therefore, let no man be ashamed of the Cross.
Let no Christian flee from the Cross.
The Cross is our boast, our hope, our resurrection, our light.

Wherever the Cross is lifted high, the devil flees.
Wherever it is signed upon the body, the angels gather round.
Wherever it is preached, hearts are pierced—not by sword, but by love.

For Christ did not come to be served, but to serve—and to give His life as a ransom for many.
And that ransom was paid here: not in gold or silver, but in blood—holy blood.

So I say to you today, brothers and sisters:
Adore the Cross.
Cling to the Cross.
Let it be ever before your eyes.

For it is not just wood.
It is the pulpit of Christ.
It is the ladder to heaven.
It is the judgment seat of mercy.

And when you make the sign of the Cross, do it not in haste or habit, but with reverence.
You are invoking your redemption.

As St. Paul said, “May I never boast except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world.” (Galatians 6:14)

This, then, is our glory.
Not that we are strong, but that Christ was crucified.
Not that we are righteous, but that He was made sin.
Not that we have overcome, but that He has overcome in us—through the Cross.

To Him be glory and dominion, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen. 

Intercessions (Joe Milner; The Sunday Website)

For the Church: that we who were signed with the cross at our baptism, may walk with Christ through the Paschal Mystery and allow God to guide us through all of life's trials.

For all who carry the cross each day; for parents of troubled children; for those struggling with addiction: and for those who have been abused: that Christ who has been lifted up will walk with them through the pain and into new life.

For all who have long-term illness or disability and for their families: that they may draw strength from the sufferings of Christ and hope from his resurrection.

For health and safety in our schools and colleges: that God will protect all students and faculty from violence and disease and help everyone to learn and grow in the coming months.

For leaders in governments, business, education, and religion: that they may follow the example of Christ and become servants to all the voiceless and marginalized of society.

For families who are broken and in turmoil: that Christ's example of love and service may guide them toward reconciliation and compassion for one another.

For all who are facing death: that the cross will bring strength and grace to those with terminal illness, those who live in danger of violence, and those who are awaiting execution, and lead them to Christ who is the resurrection and life.

For freedom from war and violence: that the cross of Christ will show the way to peace and new beginnings for all experiencing violence and bloodshed.

For peace: that the cross of Christ may illumine a new way to settle conflicts in Ukraine, Iran, and Gaza, and open a path toward forgiveness and reconciliation.

Lifted up among us, O God, is Jesus the crucified: sign of your steadfast love and pledge of your will to save. To those who look upon the cross with faith grant healing of soul and life eternal. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. (ICEL; 1998)

Motet

Salvator mundi, salva nos,

O Saviour of the world, save us,

qui per crucem et sanguinem redemisti nos,

who by thy cross and blood hast redeemed us,

auxiliare nobis, te deprecamur, Deus noster.

help us, we pray thee, O Lord our God.

Communion Antiphon

 

Super omnia ligna cedrorum, tu sola excelsior:

Only thou exceedest in highness all the wood of Cedar:

In qua mundi salus pependit,

Upon which the salvation of the world did hang,

In qua Christus triumphavit,

On which Christ did triumph,

Et mors mortem superavit in aeternum.

And death overcame death forever.

Closing Hymn