(Numbers 21: 4b-9; Psalm 78; Philippians 2:6-11; John 3:13-17)

We are often reminded that God does things differently to man. There are examples of this in both the Old and the New Testaments. For example, when the prophet Samuel was sent to Jesse’s home to select one of his sons to succeed Saul as king, it wasn’t the eldest; warrior son chosen; but the young musical shepherd, who God anointed as the next king of Israel [1Samuel 16]. Likewise, at the time of Jesus, the Jewish leaders were hoping for a Messiah who would overthrow the Roman occupiers; instead, Jesus came speaking of peace, love and forgiveness.

In the first reading today, the people in the wilderness who spoke against God and Moses started to be attacked by poisonous serpents; many of the people perished. Nowadays if we are aware of a hazard, we might post signs to make people aware to either avoid the hazard or to take the right precautions to minimise the risk of the hazard becoming realised. We have no expectation that a sign we post would be an antidote for the danger; our signs are about prevention. God instructed Moses to have a bronze serpent made so that those who trusted in God would look at the elevated bronze serpent and survive. Hence, our ever-merciful God, provided a remedy to the punishment He created, for those who returned to Him.

In the Gospel Jesus tells us that no-one; but He; has ever ascended into heaven. He then goes on to remind his audience that just as Moses lifted up the serpent, so too would He be lifted up. Just as the people in the wilderness were given another chance to repent and seek forgiveness; so too would those who follow Jesus. Instead of a serpent, we would be given the Cross. The Jewish leaders at the time of Jesus saw the cross as the ultimate symbol of humiliation for Jesus. But remember God sees things differently to mankind, the serpent who killed was turned into an image which could save, the Cross of death and humiliation exchanged for a source of healing and salvation. But these gifts from God only apply when we have faith in the promises made in relation to them.

In the second reading of the Office of the Church today, St Andrew of Crete says; “How great the cross! What blessings it holds! He who possesses it possesses a treasure. More noble, more precious than anything on earth, in fact and in name, it is indeed a treasure, for in it and through it and for it all the riches of our salvation were stored away and restored to us.”[1] Today is a reminder for us of how crucial the Cross is to our Faith, as St Paul tells us, “The language of the cross may be illogical to those who are not on the way to salvation, but  those of us who are on the way see it as God’s power to save” [1 Corinthians 1:18].

Some questions to ponder –

  • Do I/we have a cross in our home?
  • Is the Cross displayed in a prominent place within my home?
  • Do I view the Cross as a treasure?
  • How would I explain that the Cross has the power to save, to a non-believer?

As well as having crucifixes in several places in our home, we have a print of Salvador Dali’s painting “Christ of St John of the Cross”. It hangs in a position that it can be viewed by everyone who comes into our home. This painting caused controversy when it was purchased by the Director of Glasgow museums in 1952, with some saying the money should have been spent on local artists. Some detractors even raising a petition to block the purchase. The Director would not be moved, and this painting is now viewed as one of the treasurers of Glasgow’s collection, with prints of the painting generating far more income than was ever spent on the painting as well as being in great demand by other museums around the world. For us it is a reminder of Glasgow, a talking point for some visitors, and a reminder of the pain Christ suffered for us.[2]

This Sunday is also Education Sunday in England and Wales; Bishop Stock, who is the Chair of the Catholic Education Service says “this is a day when we give thanks to Almighty God for the vocation of all who work with the children and young people in the Catholic education sector: governors, school leaders, chaplains, teaching and support staff.  

In the academic year ahead, let us endeavour to give witness to our Saviour’s message of hope in the Gospels, and to pray that our Catholic schools, colleges and universities will be beacons of hope in our local communities and in our two nations.”[3]

A lot of people take our schools for granted, as someone who has served as a school governor for several years, I know how dedicated the staff; both teaching and non-teaching; are in our schools. These are people who live out the Gospel message. They are bringing our young people towards Jesus our Saviour [Mt 19:14].

Today as we celebrate the Exaltation of the Cross we come to Jesus, remembering the events of Good Friday, and how this instrument of torture has been claimed by Christians everywhere as a symbol of our belonging to Christ.

Further Reading

The Catechism of the Catholic Church[4]

Exaltation of the Holy Cross

CCC 613-623: Christ’s death is the unique and definitive sacrifice
CCC 662: elevation on the Cross and the Ascension
CCC 555, 1816, 2015: the Cross as the way to follow Christ

Please remember in your prayers

  • All those who are sick, either at home or in hospital, especially those who have very few or no visitors.
  • Those who have died and those who grieve for them.
  • That the political assassination in the USA this week is not the trigger for more violence.
  • All people affected by war and that international treaties for the protection of non-combatants and civilians are respected and adhered to.
  • Fr Stephen as he takes up his new role at St Michaels’ and St Oswald’s and celebrates his first Masses on the anniversary of his ordination.
  • All those who work in the Education sector, may they continue to inspire our young people towards a journey of lifelong education.
  • Those recommencing their studies for the Priesthood and the Permanent Diaconate, especially those from our Pastoral Area.
  • All those attending the RCIA programmes which are starting this week at St Bede’s.
  • Those preparing for the start of the Youth Alpha programme which is a prerequisite for the Confirmation programme in our Pastoral Area.
  • The success of the Pastoral Area Mission Plan.

Deacon Tony

12th September 2025.

[1] St Andrew of Crete, Homily, taken from The Divine Office, Volume III, [Harper Collins Publishing, London, 1974] 253*.

[2] How Dali’s most controversial painting became the jewel of Kelvingrove Art Gallery

[3] Message to Catholic Schools for Education Sunday – Catholic Bishops’ Conference

[4] Homiletic Directory, Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments