Daily Gospel Reflection
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September 14, 2021
Jesus said to Nicodemus:
“No one has gone up to heaven
except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man.
And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert,
so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might not perish
but might have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but that the world might be saved through him.
Reflection
In the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at Notre Dame, the space behind the main altar—commonly referred to as the “Lady Chapel”—is more accurately named the Chapel of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. It was built as an addition to the church in 1886—44 years after Fr. Sorin and seven Holy Cross brothers arrived on a cold November day to take up residence in the Log Chapel on the shore of Saint Mary’s Lake.
The cold of winter was but one of many crosses that Fr. Sorin and the religious community would bear for the sake of the kingdom. Fire, disease, religious prejudice, and lack of funds were others. They didn’t shirk the cross; on the contrary, after 44 years of the cross constantly before their eyes, they boasted in it. They lifted high the cross and built a chapel dedicated to it. They exalted in the cross, proclaiming: Ave Crux Spes Unica (Hail the Cross, Only Hope)!
They did so because they were men of Holy Cross. They had the hope, and they brought it with them to the woods of northern Indiana. They were formed in the conviction that because of the paschal mystery, all human suffering is capable of being infused with the same power of God made manifest in the cross of Christ. And so, when faced with the cross of trial and adversity, they saw not a portended end, but the hope it promises—newness of life to come.
This was the reason for their hope. And their hope did not disappoint!
Let us, too, bear our crosses with hope—and exalt in them even—trusting that God can bring new life in and through the cross of trial and adversity that we face for the sake of the kingdom. Such a hope will surely not disappoint!
Prayer
Lord Jesus, we confess that we have done many things that we are ashamed of, which we would prefer be kept hidden in the dark. Yet we also need to remember that no sin of ours is greater than your love for us. So please grant us the courage to stop hiding and come out into the light of your forgiveness and mercy. Amen.
Saint of the Day
For centuries, the Church has gathered on this date to venerate the cross upon which Jesus died.
On this date in 320, during a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, St. Helen discovered the site where local Christians believed Jesus was crucified. Underneath this site of a pagan temple, she found three buried crosses—Jesus’ own, and the crosses of the two thieves executed beside him. How did Helen identify which cross was the one on which Jesus died? A sick woman was told to kiss each cross, and when she kissed the third cross, she was healed.
Helen also discovered the inscription that was placed on the cross above Jesus’ head and the nails that pierced his hands and feet. When she was certain she had found the true cross, it was lifted up for all to see and the gathered people responded in acclamation of praise.
The date of this discovery was remembered and used to dedicate churches that were later built over the places of Jesus’ death and burial. Pieces of the true cross were kept in a silver reliquary box in the church that was built over Jesus’ tomb. Early authors all agree that the relics were comprised of pieces of the true cross; the cross was not preserved in its entirety.
In the centuries that followed, conflicts overran the Holy Land multiple times, and invading forces claimed the relics as a prize. When Emperor Heraclius recovered the pieces of the cross in 629 after one incursion, he gathered the people on this date for a solemn liturgy to venerate the relics. When the pieces were lifted up for veneration, many sick were miraculously cured.
The feast of the Exaltation of the Cross is one of the great feast days of the Orthodox Church. Pieces of the true cross are part of the reliquary collection in the Basilica, and brought out for veneration, especially on Good Friday. The reliquary also holds a piece of the rock of Calvary, where Jesus was crucified, as well as pieces of his tomb.
On this feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, let us remember Jesus’ suffering and death and look to the cross for healing and life!