GOSPEL
God sent his Son so that through him the world might be saved
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John
John 3:13-17
Jesus said to Nicodemus:
‘No one has gone up to heaven
except the one who came down from heaven,
the Son of Man who is in heaven;
and the Son of Man must be lifted up
as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert,
so that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.
Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost
but may have eternal life.
For God sent his Son into the world
not to condemn the world,
but so that through him the world might be saved.’
‘No one has gone up to heaven
except the one who came down from heaven,
the Son of Man who is in heaven;
and the Son of Man must be lifted up
as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert,
so that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.
Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost
but may have eternal life.
For God sent his Son into the world
not to condemn the world,
but so that through him the world might be saved.’
The Gospel of the Lord.
It Costs an Arm and a Leg
Today we celebrate the Exaltation of the Cross. When man was created, according to the symbolic language of Genesis, the tree of life was placed at the centre of the garden. This means that man had access to eternal life. But when man turned his back on God, he lost access to life, because God, above all, is the giver of life.
God restored access to eternal life for mankind through the Cross of Christ. In other words, our path to eternal life now passes through Christ’s cross.
Don’t want to unite with Christ on the cross? Then you will not have life. Choose to do so, and you will generate life, and it will be abundant.
God restored access to eternal life for mankind through the Cross of Christ. In other words, our path to eternal life now passes through Christ’s cross.
Don’t want to unite with Christ on the cross? Then you will not have life. Choose to do so, and you will generate life, and it will be abundant.
Applied to Married Life:
John: I used to struggle so much with accepting the crosses that came my way, until I realised they were the path through which I received life and could also give life.
Theresa: It was the same for me. The next step was to ask the Lord to allow me to stay with Him on the cross. And the final step is to actually desire the cross for the greater glory of God.
John: It’s true that when we desire the cross, it becomes much lighter because we’re no longer dragging it. It is the Lord who carries it within us.
Theresa: And the life that is generated through the cross…
John: It’s incredible! We’ve witnessed so many miracles. The other day, someone asked us, “How can you desire the cross?” And I replied, “Would you want to lose a kidney?” He said, “Of course not.” Then I asked, “But if your child needed that kidney, would you give it to them?” That’s when he understood. When there is love, and you know that through the cross you give life because you are collaborating with Christ in the salvation of many, and He is eager to pour out His love through us, then out of love, you desire the cross.
Theresa: I love that. It’s such a vivid example. Thank you—it’s really helped me understand it better in my own life.
Theresa: It was the same for me. The next step was to ask the Lord to allow me to stay with Him on the cross. And the final step is to actually desire the cross for the greater glory of God.
John: It’s true that when we desire the cross, it becomes much lighter because we’re no longer dragging it. It is the Lord who carries it within us.
Theresa: And the life that is generated through the cross…
John: It’s incredible! We’ve witnessed so many miracles. The other day, someone asked us, “How can you desire the cross?” And I replied, “Would you want to lose a kidney?” He said, “Of course not.” Then I asked, “But if your child needed that kidney, would you give it to them?” That’s when he understood. When there is love, and you know that through the cross you give life because you are collaborating with Christ in the salvation of many, and He is eager to pour out His love through us, then out of love, you desire the cross.
Theresa: I love that. It’s such a vivid example. Thank you—it’s really helped me understand it better in my own life.
Mother,
Praise be to God for giving us Your Son on the Cross. Thank You for offering Him, too.