Through the Cross, We Have Life
Friends,
Today we hear the clear message from both St. Paul and St. John: We are saved through the Cross of Jesus. St. Paul tells us that Jesus “humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” St. John continues the hopeful theme: “For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, so that he who believes in Him might not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.”
What consoling words. Jesus loved us so much that He was willing to die for us and even die a horrific death by crucifixion on a cross. That is why we Catholic Christians honor the Holy Cross. That is why we Catholic Christians have a crucifix in all of our churches of a dead Christ, because only through death do we come to share the Resurrection of the Lord. That is why we Catholic Christians have a crucifix in our homes prominently displayed to express our thanks to God for giving us His only Son who was willing to die for us on a painful cross. That is why many of us Catholic Christians wear a cross around our neck as a sign of our commitment to Jesus. The Holy Cross is an integral symbol for our faith in the life, death and Resurrection of Jesus. We are proud of the Holy Cross.
Fr. John Maxwell
P.S.: Today. we are asking you to support the financing of the new cathedral in downtown Oakland. This will be the “mother church” of the Oakland Diocese. It is an impressive and beautiful symbol of our Catholic Church in the Bay Area. You will find lots of literature about the Cathedral of Light in the church today. Please do your share to support our bishop in building this remarkable new cathedral.
