The Triumphant Cross

Today we celebrate the feast of the Triumph of the Cross.  The first reading of today's liturgy is from Numbers 21: 4b-9, wherein we read about the Israelites complaining to Moses about having been brought out into the desert. They are frustrated with having no food and no water.  "Let us go back to Egypt and leave this wretched place", they seem to be saying to Moses. Their complaints lead to an even more desperate situation: they are being bitten by seraph serpents and dying as a result.    Moses intercedes for them and God instructs him to erect a statue of a seraph serpent. Anyone who looks upon this serpent will live.

The  parallel to Jesus on the cross is obvious.  All the stories in the Old Testament  are Christocentric, as is this one.As Moses pleaded for the Chosen People of the Old Covenant, Jesus intercedes for us, the Chosen people of the New Covenant.  How often do we, like the Israelites of old, complain to God.  "Who brought us to this wretched place? Where is God now? Does He not care? People are dying in the 'deserts' of this world, in the disastrous weather episodes crossing our country, the "plagues" of human traffickers, drug traffickers, sexual predators, slave laborers, abortionists, extortionists, and other corrupt, seemingly conscience-deprived individuals.  People are being driven from their home lands, kidnapped, put to death today as were people of old. God," we say, "we are sick and tired of this wretched place and all that is happening that is bringing untold suffering to us, including breakouts of terminal diseases and a myriad of mental and emotional  illnesses. Where are you God?" we complain.


God the Son came down from heaven and became one of us. He took on human nature and was not exempt from the evils of this world anymore than you and I are.  His ministry and life collapsed when Judas betrayed Him and handed him over to those who were bent on destroying Him and any memory of Him. Jesus, unlike the Chosen People, trusted the Father. He was obedient to the Father even unto death, was risen from the dead and says to us: God the Father is trustworthy. Look to Him. Believe in Him. I did!