In all Catholic Churches and Chapels worldwide, we celebrate the “Exaltation of the Cross,” an instrument of execution adopted by the Romans from the Chinese, who reserved it for the worst criminals.
How does God take something so evil and cruel and change it into the central symbol of our Catholic Faith and the sign of our salvation? I like Brennan Manning’s story in The Signature of Jesus.
“While meditating under a big tree on the bank of a river, an old man saw a scorpion floating helplessly on the river. The man quickly stretched himself out on one of the tree’s long roots, reaching out to rescue the drowning creature. “As soon as he touched it, the scorpion stung him. Instinctively, the man pulled away. But as soon as he regained his balance, he stretched out again to save the scorpion. Again, he was stung for his efforts so severely that his hand swelled up most painfully.
“A passerby who had seen all that had happened called out, “Only a fool would risk his life for the sake of such a creature.” Calmly, the man replied, “My friend, just because it is the scorpion’s nature to sting, that does not change my nature to save.”
There’s no getting around it that Jesus did not want to have to do this. He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane to let the cup of suffering pass him by. Only a free, pure act of sacrificial love stops evil and sin in its tracks.
Like the scorpion, sin and evil aim to destroy, while Jesus’s nature is to save and give life. Until we accept His perfect love and turn from sin, there is no Exaltation of the Cross. Let us not fear the sting we might feel when facing the truth of our sinfulness, for it is a tiny cross compared to what Jesus bore. May our crosses become trees of life and sources of salvation. Gospel Challenge: Being a disciple of Jesus is all grace; there’s only one place we can find it: being with the Lord daily. Spend precious time with Him. Only God can change our hearts and what they value. Love One Another!
October 15, 2026Luke 11:47-54https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/101526.cfm The most humbling thing we can discover is … Can you imagine how often the scribes, Pharisees, and lawyers heard Jesus
October 14, 2026Luke 11:42-46https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/101426.cfm One little decision can determine our destiny. “Woe to you, Pharisees!” Intoxicated drivers can cause significant harm to themselves and others.
October 13, 2026Luke 11:37-41https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/101326.cfm Some Things We Can’t See Living in a parish with a school allows me to visit the children anytime. However, we
October 11, 2026 Matthew 22:1-14https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/101126.cfm Silence – An Unrepentant Heart Our culture is consumed with appearance. Look at the commercials. If we focus only onthe
Fr. Rick’s Homily: the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
September 14, 20264
John 3:13-17
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/091426.cfm
Don’t Be Afraid of the Sting
In all Catholic Churches and Chapels worldwide, we celebrate the “Exaltation of the
Cross,” an instrument of execution adopted by the Romans from the Chinese, who
reserved it for the worst criminals.
How does God take something so evil and cruel and change it into the central symbol of
our Catholic Faith and the sign of our salvation? I like Brennan Manning’s story in The
Signature of Jesus.
“While meditating under a big tree on the bank of a river, an old man saw a
scorpion floating helplessly on the river. The man quickly stretched himself out on
one of the tree’s long roots, reaching out to rescue the drowning creature.
“As soon as he touched it, the scorpion stung him. Instinctively, the man pulled
away. But as soon as he regained his balance, he stretched out again to save the
scorpion. Again, he was stung for his efforts so severely that his hand swelled up
most painfully.
“A passerby who had seen all that had happened called out, “Only a fool would
risk his life for the sake of such a creature.” Calmly, the man replied, “My friend,
just because it is the scorpion’s nature to sting, that does not change my nature
to save.”
There’s no getting around it that Jesus did not want to have to do this. He prayed in the
Garden of Gethsemane to let the cup of suffering pass him by. Only a free, pure act of
sacrificial love stops evil and sin in its tracks.
Like the scorpion, sin and evil aim to destroy, while Jesus’s nature is to save and give
life. Until we accept His perfect love and turn from sin, there is no Exaltation of the
Cross. Let us not fear the sting we might feel when facing the truth of our sinfulness, for
it is a tiny cross compared to what Jesus bore. May our crosses become trees of life
and sources of salvation.
Gospel Challenge:
Being a disciple of Jesus is all grace; there’s only one place we can find it: being with
the Lord daily. Spend precious time with Him. Only God can change our hearts and
what they value.
Love One Another!
Father Rick Pilger, I.C.
www.bscchurch.com
www.rosminians.com
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