WC 15/08 LOVED
- dclm01
- Sep 4
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 6
We take this theme from the Feast of
THE EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS
GATHER
+In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
How does being loved feel?
Who truly loves you? How do you know?
How do you show love to the people you say you love?
WORD
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John: Glory to you O Lord.
At that time: Jesus said to Nicodemus, ‘No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.’
The Gospel of the Lord: Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.
RESPONSE
This week our theme comes a feast day in the Church: the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. At first, this might seem a little strange. Why would we "exalt" or celebrate a cross, a symbol of suffering and death? We’ve all seen the image of Jesus on the cross, and we know it represents sacrifice and death. But on this day, the Church invites us to look at the cross in a new light - not as a symbol of death, but as the clearest and most powerful sign of God's love for us.
In the Gospel of John, Jesus speaks about this very thing. He says;
"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."
(John 3:14)
The comparison to the desert story is important: the Israelites were saved from dying simply by looking upon the bronze serpent that Moses had made. In the same way, we are saved by looking upon Christ, who was "lifted up" on the cross.
But the most famous line from this passage, and maybe in all of Scripture, is this:
“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.”
(John 3:16)
This is the heart of the message. The cross isn't the end of a story of sacrifice; it's the beginning of a story of infinite, unconditional love.
When you look at a crucifix, you aren't just seeing a historical event. You are seeing a real, living, and personal sign from God to you. It's him saying, "I love you so much that I would do anything for you." God doesn't just love humanity in general; he loves you personally and perfectly. His love isn't something you have to earn by being good enough, smart enough, or popular enough. It is a free gift, given to you. The cross stands as a permanent reminder of that radical love.
So, as you start this new year, remember that you are loved beyond measure. The cross, which we exalt, is a promise that you are never alone and that God's love is with you always. It is a symbol of hope and the ultimate victory of love over everything else.
How does Jesus’ message challenge or comfort you?
MISSION
Each time you see a Crucifix or Cross this week, remember you are loved.
COLLECT
Let us pray…
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.
