“No one has ascended into heaven but 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." (John 3:14-15)
It was Dominic Cardinal Ekandem who had "In Cruce Salus" - "In the Cross there is Salvation" as his episcopal motto. This thought of his tuned our minds to the symbolism of Cross. Which for some, Cross is an instrument of torture and public humiliation; bu for us Christians it is a sign of victory.
The book of Numbers made allusion to the Cross of Jesus Christ when the Isrealites were bitten by the serpent. Moses was instructed to make a bronze serpent which will served as a remedy to the situation with divine significance. (cf. Numbers 21:4ff.)
This symbolic event made itself manifested in the gospel pericope of Evangelist John when he said, "The Son of man will be lifted up, and whosoever that look upon Him will be saved." (cf. John 3:13ff.)
To buttress this point, St. Andrew of Crete in one of his homilies described Cross of our Lord as a great and outstanding possession any man can boast of. (cf. 2nd Office of the Reading on the Feast of Exaltation of the Cross).
He further asserted that: "Had there been no cross, death would not have been trodden underfoot, nor hell despoiled."
However, beloved in Christ Jesus let us embrace Cross with joy for when we share in the sufferings of Christ, we also rejoice exultantly when His glory is revealed.
Peace! Be with you. 🙌
Fada PIUSRALPH prays for you
Let us pray 🙏
Almighty and everlasting God, we thank You for the wonders of our being. Grant we pray O! Lord the grace to accept every Cross that comes our way as a share in Your passion so that we may be glorified on the last day. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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