The Cross-roads

Numbers 21:4-9; Ps 78 Do not forget the works of the Lord; Philippians 2:6-11; John 3:13-17

The cross, that is crucifixion upon the cross, was invented as some historians surmise by the Assyrians. The Assyrians were terrorist of the middle ages. They saw crucifixion as a way or tactic of inflicting great fear in the hearts of its enemies. It was used to to bring about the least amount of resistance to being conquered and the least amount of rebellion once conquered.

Crucifixion was a device that brought about the most amount of pain for the longest amount of time. It was a terror tactic that was very effective. The assyrians conquered quickly.

The Roman Empire adopted the crucifixion from the Assyrians. They thought it so cruel and base that no Roman citizen regardless of his deeds, even treason, could ever be crucified. It was reserved only for slaves and conquered people.

It became a tool of intimidation. The one to be crucified was stripped naked, publicly humiliated and nailed upon the cross for all to see.


The cross before it was decorative was an instrument of destruction, and instrument of torture, an instrument of pain, an instrument of death. Yet, it was the Person of Christ in his body that transforms that instrument of destruction and death into a place of peace, forgiveness, and life itself. The ugliness of the cross becomes beauty in Christ.

That which was meant to be a tool of terror and intimidation now stands at the center of faith, is now to be exalted as the means by which redemption is brought to all.
From terror and intimidation to praise and glorification.

But without the body of Christ the cross remains only a piece of art, only a decorative remembrance of what was once a bare wall.

Exalt the cross...see it as a triumphant and victorious work of redemption...see it as beauty not just art.
Pope John Paul II proclaimed that in the end we are saved by beauty...The Exaltation of the Cross should remind us of that beautiful reality upon whose life we now live.

We hear the words of St. John in the gospel today, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his son to condemn the world but that the world might be saved through him."


Remember the first station of the cross: JEsus is condemned to death. Jesus allows himself to be conquered and condemned so that we might avoid that peril. JEsus chooses to perish so that we might inherit the imperishable life.

We exalt the cross. We rejoice. This day we look backwards to Good Friday when we venerate the cross. We look forward to Good Friday in which we will venerate the cross. We forever live beneath the shadow of the cross.

The cross is life.

The cross roads is no longer just an intersection upon which we may take different directions; rather the cross is that which gives us direction and directs on the road to life abundant and joy that is full.