The endless depth of God’s love

In Jesus’ Cross do we hear the summons to forgiveness and reconciliation?

WORD OF FAITH: A breakdown of each week's upcoming Sunday readings to better understand the Word of God at Mass.

The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross commemorates three historical events: the discovery of the True Cross in 326, its initial exaltation for public veneration in 335, and the recovery of the Cross from the Persians in 628. Today, this feast also celebrates the boundless impact the Cross of Christ has for all creation.

It’s intriguing that a feast celebrating “exultation” uses Philippians 2:6-11 as a Scripture reading. St. Paul stresses the humility of Jesus, the Christ — who, though he is God, takes on a human nature — “taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness.” The Incarnation is certainly an “emptying” because the infinite Son of God becomes flesh in the womb of a simple maiden who lives in a backwater town in Galilee. The meekness and vulnerability of God is startling! If this were not enough, Jesus humbles himself even more, “becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.” Jesus subjected himself to the torturous death that was reserved for murderers, thieves and slaves. Truly this is a complete self-emptying! 

This “coming down” is stressed by Jesus himself in the Gospel, when he explains to Nicodemus that he has come down from heaven in order to be lifted up (a reference to crucifixion) “so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” The reason for this abasement, this outpouring and this lifting-up is to show the great love of God for all of us, for all of creation.

On the cross, Jesus draws all of life, all of humanity, into the great arms of God. Jesus takes on himself the pain and suffering of humankind. Jesus holds the violence of sin to his own heart. He refuses to cry out for vengeance. He forgives those who have murdered and betrayed him. Jesus does not condemn anyone.

Jesus obediently and humbly showed the love of the Father right to the very end. “Because of this God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name — so that all of creation should bend the knee at the name of Jesus and proclaim that he is Lord.” Jesus’ exaltation is accomplished not in bragging, not in great feats of power, not in wowing the crowds, but by taking the last place, in humble service and self-giving. 

On Sunday when we celebrate the exultation of the Son by the Father, in the love of the Spirit, let us take time to reflect on what the Cross of Christ means to us. Of course, it means that Jesus has saved us from our sin. But do we see the Cross as an invitation to be humble? This is certainly a challenge in a culture that acclaims being number one, a culture that races to the highest place, that extols power and prestige. Humility — knowing who we truly are with all our strengths and weaknesses — is often overlooked. Yet it is one of Jesus’ greatest “virtues,” the foundation of the spiritual life. The call to be humble is the reality that Jesus preached with his life and exemplified with his death. 

In Jesus’ Cross do we hear the summons to forgiveness and reconciliation? Do we see the example of Jesus who refused to take offense at egregious suffering so that he could lead us from self-righteousness and arrogance into gentleness and understanding? As we gaze on the Cross of Christ, do we know the vast and endless depth of the love that God has for us?