>> A READING FROM THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. THE LORD GOD OPENS MY EAR THAT I MAY HEAR; AND I HAVE NOT REBELLED, HAVE NOT TURNED BACK. I GAVE MY BACK TO THOSE WHO BEAT ME, MY CHEEKS TO THOSE WHO PLUCKED MY BEARD; MY FACE I DID NOT SHIELD FROM BUFFETS AND SPITTING. THE LORD GOD IS MY HELP, THEREFORE I AM NOT DISGRACED; I HAVE SET MY FACE LIKE FLINT, KNOWING THAT I SHALL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME. HE IS NEAR WHO UPHOLDS MY RIGHT; IF ANYONE WISHES TO OPPOSE ME, LET US APPEAR TOGETHER. WHO DISPUTES MY RIGHT? LET THAT MAN CONFRONT ME. SEE, THE LORD GOD IS MY HELP; WHO WILL PROVE ME WRONG? ♪ VERBUM DOMINI ♪ >> ♪ DEO GRATIAS ♪ (ORGAN) >> ♪ I WILL WALK BEFORE THE LORD, IN THE LAND OF THE LIVING ♪ >> I WILL WALK BEFORE THE LORD, IN THE LAND OF THE LIVING ♪ >> ♪ I LOVE THE LORD BECAUSE HE HAS HEARD MY VOICE IN SUPPLICATION, BECAUSE HE HAS INCLINED HIS EAR TO ME THE DAY I CALLED ♪ >> ♪ I WILL WALK BEFORE THE LORD, IN THE LAND OF THE LIVING ♪ >> ♪ THE CORDS OF DEATH ENCOMPASSED ME; THE SNARES OF THE NETHERWORLD SEIZED UPON ME; I FELL INTO DISTRESS AND SORROW, AND I CALLED UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD, "O LORD, SAVE MY LIFE!" ♪ >> ♪ I WILL WALK BEFORE THE LORD, IN THE LAND OF THE LIVING ♪ >> ♪ GRACIOUS IS THE LORD AND JUST; YES, OUR GOD IS MERCIFUL ♪ THE LORD KEEPS THE LITTLE ONES; I WAS BROUGHT LOW, AND HE SAVED ME ♪ >> ♪ I WILL WALK BEFORE THE LORD, IN THE LAND OF THE LIVING ♪ >> ♪ FOR HE HAS FREED MY SOUL FROM DEATH, MY EYES FROM TEARS, MY FEET FROM STUMBLING ♪ ♪ I SHALL WALK BEFORE THE LORD IN THE LAND OF THE LIVING ♪ >> ♪ I WILL WALK BEFORE THE LORD, IN THE LAND OF THE LIVING ♪ >> A READING FROM THE LETTER OF SAINT JAMES. WHAT GOOD IS IT, MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, IF SOMEONE SAYS HE HAS FAITH BUT DOES NOT HAVE WORKS? CAN THAT FAITH SAVE HIM? IF A BROTHER OR SISTER HAS NOTHING TO WEAR AND HAS NO FOOD FOR THE DAY, AND ONE OF YOU SAYS TO THEM, GO IN PEACE, KEEP WARM, AND EAT WELL, BUT YOU DO NOT GIVE THEM THE NECESSITIES OF THE BODY, WHAT GOOD IS IT? SO ALSO FAITH OF ITSELF, IF IT DOES NOT HAVE WORKS, IS DEAD. INDEED SOMEONE MIGHT SAY, YOU HAVE FAITH AND I HAVE WORKS. DEMONSTRATE YOUR FAITH TO ME WITHOUT WORKS, AND I WILL DEMONSTRATE MY FAITH TO YOU FROM MY WORKS. ♪ VERBUM DOMINI ♪ >> ♪ DEO GRATIAS ♪ (ORGAN) >> ♪ ALLELUIA ALLELUIA ALLELUIA ♪ >> ♪ ALLELUIA ALLELUIA ALLELUIA ♪ >> ♪ MAY I NEVER BOAST EXCEPT IN THE CROSS OF OUR LORD THROUGH WHICH THE WORLD HAS BEEN CRUCIFIED TO ME AND I TO THE WORLD ♪ >> ♪ ALLELUIA ALLELUIA ALLELUIA ♪ >> ♪ DOMINUS VOBISCUM ♪ >> ♪ ET CUM SPIRITU TUO ♪ >> ♪ LECTIO SANCTI EVANGELII SECUNDUM MARCUM ♪ >> ♪ GLORIA TIBI, DOMINE ♪ >> JESUS AND HIS DISCIPLES SET OUT FOR THE VILLAGES OF CAESAREA PHILIPPI. ALONG THE WAY HE ASKED HIS DISCIPLES, WHO DO PEOPLE SAY THAT I AM? THEY SAID IN REPLY, JOHN THE BAPTIST, OTHERS ELIJAH, STILL OTHERS ONE OF THE PROPHETS. AND HE ASKED THEM, BUT WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM? PETER SAID TO HIM IN REPLY, "YOU ARE THE CHRIST. THEN HE WARNED THEM NOT TO TELL ANYONE ABOUT HIM. HE BEGAN TO TEACH THEM THAT THE SON OF MAN MUST SUFFER GREATLY AND BE REJECTED BY THE ELDERS, THE CHIEF PRIESTS, AND THE SCRIBES, AND BE KILLED, AND RISE AFTER THREE DAYS. HE SPOKE THIS OPENLY. THEN PETER TOOK HIM ASIDE AND BEGAN TO REBUKE HIM. AT THIS HE TURNED AROUND AND, LOOKING AT HIS DISCIPLES, REBUKED PETER AND SAID, GET BEHIND ME, SATAN. YOU ARE THINKING NOT AS GOD DOES, BUT AS HUMAN BEINGS DO. HE SUMMONED THE CROWD WITH HIS DISCIPLES AND SAID TO THEM, WHOEVER WISHES TO COME AFTER ME MUST DENY HIMSELF, TAKE UP HIS CROSS, AND FOLLOW ME. FOR WHOEVER WISHES TO SAVE HIS LIFE WILL LOSE IT, BUT WHOEVER LOSES HIS LIFE FOR MY SAKE AND THAT OF THE GOSPEL WILL SAVE IT. ♪ VERBUM DOMINI ♪ >> ♪ LAUS TIBI, CHRISTE ♪ >> I LOVE THIS GOSPEL FOR THE LITURGICAL YEAR B OF THE 3 YEAR SUNDAY CYCLE DURING THE 24TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME. JESUS ASKS HIS DISCIPLES, SPECIFICALLY THE 12 APOSTLES, WHO DO PEOPLE SAY THAT I AM? WHO DO PEOPLE SAY THAT I AM? HOW ABOUT TODAY IN 2021? IF YOU WERE TO ASK AROUND, WHO DO PEOPLE SAY THAT JESUS IS? GO OUT ON THE STREETS IN A BUSY CITY AND ASK 20 PEOPLE. I BET YOU GET 20 DIFFERENT ANSWERS. WE SEE THAT WITH THE APOSTLES. WHEN JESUS ASKED WHO DO PEOPLE SAY THAT I AM? THE DISCIPLES 1ST STATE THE ANSWERS THAT MISS HIS TRUE IDENTITY. THEY MISSED THE MARK. THESE ARE THE APOSTLES. BUT THE SUBSEQUENT REVELATION FROM THE MOUTH OF ST. PETER, YOU ARE THE CHRIST, AND IN OTHER TRANSLATIONS, YOU ARE THE CHRIST THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD FROM ANOTHER GOSPEL. IT CAN ONLY BE THE WORK OF GOD. MOTHER PATRICK PEYTON, THE ROSARY CRUSADE PRIEST DID A BEAUTIFUL LIFE OF CHRIST ON FILM IN THE 60S MOST OF IT WAS TAPED IN SPAIN AND IF YOU SEE THIS PARTICULAR GOSPEL ENACTED IN THE SERIES THE LIFE OF CHRIST, JESUS ASKED THE APOSTLES THERE SITTING ON THESE BEAUTIFUL HUGE ROCKS WHICH ARE KNOWN TO BE IN THAT REGION IN CAESAREA PHILIPPI. KEEP IN THAT IN MIND. THE ROCK. JESUS IS ASKING THE APOSTLES. WHO DO THEY SAY THAT I AM? THEY START ANSWERING ONE BY ONE. NOT PETER BUT THE OTHER 11. SOME SAY ELIJAH. SOME SAY JOHN THE BAPTIST. SOME SAY ANOTHER 1 OF THE PROPHETS. WHILE THE CAMERA KEEPS GOING BACK TO PETER IN BETWEEN THOSE ANSWERS AND YOU CAN TELL PETER IS FRUSTRATED AT HIS BROTHER'S RESPONSES. HE DOES NOT LIKE THE RESPONSES. ALL OF A SUDDEN HE LUNGES FORWARD FROM THE WHAT HE IS SITTING ON? THE ROCK. PETRAS, HE LUNGES FORWARD PRACTICALLY AND HE SAYS YOU ARE THE CHRIST. THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD. YOU CAN TELL HE WANTS TO REBUKE HIS BROTHERS FOR GIVING THE WRONG ANSWERS. HE PROBABLY DID IN REAL LIFE BUT I DO NOT THINK THE EVANGELIST GOT THAT PART. IMPETUOUS PETER. SO THE SUBSEQUENT REVELATION FROM THE MOUTH OF ST. PETER, YOU ARE THE CHRIST CAN ONLY BE THE WORK OF GOD. YET JUST A FEW MOMENTS LATER, PETER STILL FAILS, THE ROCK STILL FAILS TO SEE WHY CHRIST MUST UNDERGO HIS PASSION WHICH IS THE VERY ACT THAT SAVES OUR LIVES. THIS IS WHY WE INCENSE THE CRUCIFIX ON THE ALTAR 3 TIMES. IN THE ORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS. BECAUSE IT IS SO IMPORTANT. MAYBE WE CAN GET A CAMERA TO DO A CLOSE UP OF THE CRUCIFIX ON THE ALTAR. THE BEAUTIFUL CRUCIFIX. THIS IS THE ACT THAT SAVES OUR LIVES RIGHT HERE. AND PETER JUST A FEW MOMENTS LATER STILL FAILS TO SEE WHY CHRIST MUST UNDERGO HIS PASSION, AGAIN THE VERY ACT WHICH SAVES OUR OWN LIVES. SO CHRIST REBUKED PETER, GET BEHIND ME SATAN, SPEAKS TO US ALSO TO THIS VERY DAY. IT CORRECTS OUR TENDENCY TO THINK THAT THE CROSS IN OUR LIFE IS A SIGN THAT GOD HAS ABANDONED US. I HAVE THE TENDENCY MAYBE IN WEAKNESS OF FAITH WHEN I SEE THE CRUCIFIX I THINK MY 1ST THOUGHT IS THAT GOD HAS SOMEHOW ABANDONED ME. NO. WHEN IN REALITY, POPE BENEDICT THE 16TH SAID THE HOLY CROSS OF CHRIST IS A SIGN NOT THAT GOD HAS ABANDONED US BUT A SIGN THAT RATHER WE ARE BEING INVITED INTO CLOSER UNION WITH OUR SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST HIS DIVINE SON. JESUS HOW MUCH DO YOU LOVE ME? JESUS HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT TO DRAW ME INTO THE FATHER? JESUS HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT TO DRAW ME INTO THE HOLY SPIRIT? JESUS PLEASE TELL ME. ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS FOR ME JESUS. HOW MUCH? THIS MUCH. THIS MUCH. THAT IS THE CRUCIFIX. THAT IS THE CORPUS ON THE CROSS. THAT IS HOW MUCH HE WANTS TO DRAW US INTO THE FATHER. THIS IS HOW MUCH HE WANTS TO DRAW US INTO THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN? AMEN. SO IT IS THE GIFT OF FAITH. IT ENABLES US TO THINK AS GOD DOES. WHEN I LOOK AT THE CRUCIFIX I HAVE TO THINK AS GOD DOES. NOT AS FATHER WADE DOES OR FATHER WADE WANTS TO IN HIS WEAKNESS. EVEN AT TIMES OF WEAKNESS OF FAITH. NO. THE GIFT OF FAITH ENABLES US TO THINK AS GOD DOES AND TO KNOW AND MOMENTS OF SUFFERING THAT THE LORD GOD IS MY HELP THEREFORE I AM NOT DISGRACED. THE 1ST READING FROM ISAIAH GIVES US THOSE WORDS. THE LORD GOD IS MY HELP, THEREFORE I AM NOT DISGRACED. HE IS MY HELP. HE HAS ALREADY TOLD ME HOW MUCH HE WANTS TO LEAD ME TO THE FATHER. HOW MUCH HE WANTS TO LEAD ME TO THE HOLY SPIRIT. HE IS MY HELP. HE IS MY SALVATION. THIS CERTAINLY FREES US THEN TO DEMONSTRATE OUR FAITH BY BEING GENEROUS AND SELFLESS, DAILY. EVEN WHEN THE CROSS IS IN OUR LIFE. IF WE EMBRACE CHRIST AND HIS PASSION WHO WILL PROVE US WRONG? ST. JAMES ASKED THAT IN THE 2ND READING. WHEN I WAS HERE LAST WHICH WAS DURING THE MONTH OF JULY I SHARED THIS WITH YOU BUT IT FITS IN SO BEAUTIFULLY WITH TODAY'S GOSPEL AS WELL AND I WANT TO SHARE IT AGAIN. IT IS TITLED LOOK AT THE CRUCIFIX. YOU WILL REMEMBER THIS FROM JUST 2 MONTHS AGO DURING 1 OF MY HOMILIES BACK THEN. TALK ABOUT GROWTH IN FAITH. TALK ABOUT HOW WE HAVE THE CERTITUDE OF FAITH. THAT JESUS WANTS TO DRAW US TO HIMSELF TO THE FATHER, TO THE HOLY SPIRIT LISTEN. LOOK AT THE CRUCIFIX. IF YOU WANT TO KNOW GOD, LOOK AT THE CRUCIFIX. IF YOU WANT TO LOVE GOD, LOOK AT THE CRUCIFIX. IF YOU WANT TO KNOW THE INFINITE, ETERNAL LOVE OF GOD, LOOK AT THE CRUCIFIX. IF YOU WISH TO HAVE A PART IN GIVING THAT SAME LOVE TO OTHERS, LOOK AT THE CRUCIFIX. IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOUR WORTH IS, LOOK AT THE CRUCIFIX. IF YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW YOU WERE SAVED FROM THE JAWS OF HELL, LOOK AT THE CRUCIFIX. IF YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW MUCH GOD WANTS TO SAVE YOUR IMMORTAL SOUL, LOOK AT THE CRUCIFIX. IF YOU WANT TO HAVE CERTITUDE THAT GOD WANTS YOU IN HEAVEN FOR ALL ETERNITY WITH HIM, LOOK AT THE CRUCIFIX. IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHO WILL LEAD YOU TO HEAVEN, LOOK AT THE CRUCIFIX. IF YOU WANT TO LIVE WELL, LOOK AT THE CRUCIFIX. IF YOU WANT TO DIE WELL, LOOK AT THE CRUCIFIX. IF A PERSON IS COGNIZANT, THEY ARE CONSCIOUS BUT VERY NEAR DEATH DURING THE CELEBRATION OF THE LAST RITES, CONFESSION, IF THEY FEEL THEY NEED IT, THE ANOINTING OF THE SICK, HOLY VIATICUM, ONE'S FINAL COMMUNION. PRAYERS OVER THE DYING THAT INCLUDES THE LITANY OF THE SAINTS OVER THEIR BODY. AND THAT APOSTOLIC PART OF IT IF THEY ARE ABLE, COGNIZANT AND CONSCIOUS, THE PRIEST ADMINISTERING THOSE PARTS OF THE LAST RITES THAT I JUST LISTED WILL GO TOWARDS THE PERSON'S LIPS WITH THE CRUCIFIX AS PART OF HIS LAST RITES AND THE PERSON DYING IN THAT STATE, IF THEY ARE ABLE WILL KISS THE CRUCIFIX. SO I ADD IF YOU WANT TO DIE WELL, KISS THE CRUCIFIX. WHO DO PEOPLE SAY THAT I AM? THAT IS WHO HE IS. I ALSO SAID BACK IN JULY THE FAITH IS 1 OF THE 3 THEOLOGICAL VIRTUES. A GIFT OF GOD AND A HUMAN ACT SO IT IS A GIFT OF GOD TO THE PERSON AND A HUMAN ACT ON THE PERSON'S PART BACK TO GOD. FAITH IS A RECIPROCAL REALITY. THIS IS OUT OF THE CATECHISM. FAITH IS 1 OF THE 3 THEOLOGICAL VIRTUES. IT IS BOTH A GIFT OF GOD AND A HUMAN ACT BY WHICH THE BELIEVER GIVES PERSONAL ADHERENCE TO GOD WHO INVITES HIS RESPONSE, AND FREELY ASSENTS TO THE WHOLE TRUTH THAT GOD HAS REVEALED. THROUGH SACRED SCRIPTURE, SACRED TRADITION AND THE MAGISTERIUM. THE SAME FAITH BY WHICH WE PROFESS THE CREED, CELEBRATE THE 7 SACRAMENTS, LIVE BY RIGHT CONDUCT, BY PURSUING THE GOOD AND BEAUTIFUL, LOVING BOTH GOD AND NEIGHBOR, FOLLOWING THE 10 COMMANDMENTS AND THE BEATITUDES AND RESPOND TO IN PRAYER OF FAITH. FAITH IS BOTH A THEOLOGICAL VIRTUE GIVEN BY GOD AS A GRACE AND AN OBLIGATION THAT FLOWS FROM THE 1ST COMMANDMENT OF GOD. "I AM THE LORD THY GOD. THY SHALL NOT HAVE STRANGE GODS BEFORE ME. WHO DO PEOPLE SAY THAT I AM?" IN CHEMISTRY HE TURNED WATER INTO WINE. THAT IS WHO HE IS. JESUS CHRIST. AND IN BIOLOGY, HE WAS CONCEIVED WITHOUT NORMAL CONCEPTION. THAT IS WHO HE IS. IN PHYSICS, HE DISPROVED THE LAW OF GRAVITY WHEN HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD AND ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN. THAT IS WHO HE IS. IN ECONOMICS HE DISPROVED THE LAW OF DIMINISHING RETURN BY FEEDING 5000 MEN WITH 2 FISH AND 5 LOAVES OF BREAD. THAT IS WHO HE IS. IN MEDICINE HE CURED THE SICK AND THE BLIND WITHOUT ADMINISTERING A SINGLE DOSE OF DRUGS. AND IN GOVERNMENT, HE SAID THAT HE SHALL BE CALLED WONDERFUL COUNSELOR AND PRINCE OF PEACE. IN RELIGION, HE SAID NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH HIM. IN HISTORY, HE SAID HE IS THE BEGINNING AND THE END. THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA. THAT IS WHO HE IS. HE HAD NO SERVANTS, YET THEY CALLED HIM MASTER. HE HAD NO DEGREE YET THEY CALLED HIM TEACHER. HE HAD NO MEDICINES YET THEY CALLED HIM HEALER. HE HAD NO ARMY YET KINGS FEARED HIM. HE WON NO MILITARY BATTLES YET HE CONQUERED THE WORLD. HE COMMITTED NO CRIME, YET THEY CRUCIFIED HIM AND MURDERED HIM. HE DIED AND WAS BURIED IN A TOMB, YET HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD. HE IS THE SON OF GOD. JUST LIKE PETER SAID. HE IS THE 2ND PERSON OF THE ALL HOLY AND MOST ADORED TRINITY, JESUS CHRIST, OUR LORD AND SAVIOR. THAT IS HOW WE THINK. PETER GOT THE ANSWER RIGHT. YOU ARE THE CHRIST THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD. AN ANSWER OF FAITH HAT CAN ONLY ORIGINATE WITH GOD. WE HAVE ALREADY SAID THAT. WE MADE THAT POINT. YET WE ARE SO WEAK AS HUMAN PERSONS, AND JESUS ACTUALLY SAID THAT, YOU'RE NOT THINKING AS GOD DOES BUT AS HUMAN BEINGS DO BUT WE ARE SO WE ARE SO WEAK IN OUR FALLEN STATE THE JUST A FEW MINUTES LATER JESUS HAS TO REBUKE PETER AND REBUKE HIM SO STRONGLY THAT HE USES THE METAPHOR, SATAN GET BEHIND ME. YOU'RE NOT THINKING AS GOD DOES BUT AS MEN DO. AND PRECISELY BECAUSE PETER DID GET THE ANSWER RIGHT JUST A FEW MINUTES EARLIER, YOU ARE THE CHRIST THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD, BECAUSE HE GOT THAT ANSWER RIGHT BASED ON FAITH OUR LORD SHOULD'VE REBUKED HIM STRONGLY LIKE HE DID. BECAUSE JUST A FEW MINUTES LATER HE SHOWED HIS WEAKNESS SO PLAINLY. THINKING AS MEN DO AS HUMAN BEINGS DO. WHEN I LOOK AT THE CRUCIFIX I WANT TO THINK AS GOD DOES. AND WE SHOULD ALL WANT TO DO THAT. WE ARE IN THE LITTLE MARIAN OCTAVE, I HAVE SAID THAT ALL WEEK, I THINK I HAVE SAID IT AT LEAST ONCE EVERY DAY. WHAT ARE THE 2 BOOKENDS OF THIS OCTAVE? SEPTEMBER 8. HER NATIVITY, AND SEPTEMBER 15, EIGHT DAYS LATER IS THE MEMORIAL OF OUR LADY OF SORROWS. DURING THIS OCTAVE, THE 6 DAYS IN BETWEEN - DAY 7 AND DAY 8 ARE THE 2 BOOKENDS THEMSELVES - AND THE 8TH AND THE 15TH; THE 6 DAYS IN BETWEEN WE HAVE WHAT? ON 12 SEPTEMBER WE WHICH IS TODAY BEING USURPED BY THE SUNDAY IN THIS CASE THE 24TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, TAKES PRECEDENCE OVER THE OPTIONAL MEMORIAL OF THE MOST HOLY NAME OF MARY. THE 14TH THE 14TH WILL BE THE FEAST OF THE EXULTATION OF THE CROSS. AND IN A SECULAR SENSE WE HAD A COMMEMORATION YESTERDAY CELEBRATED WITHIN THE SACRED LITURGY THE COMMEMORATION OF 9/11. 9/11 FALLS WITHIN THIS OCTAVE. SO WE LOOK AT THIS OCTAVE AND LOOK AT THE FEAST OF THE EXULTATION OF THE CROSS GIVEN THIS TRUTH OF HOW WE WANT TO THINK LIKE GOD WHEN WE LOOK AT THE CRUCIFIX. I TALK ABOUT THE EXULTATION OF THE CROSS AND I CLOSE WITH THIS - THE EXULTATION OF THE CROSS CONSIST IN THE FACT THAT THE EVENT OF THE CROSS AND RESURRECTION ABIDES AND DRAWS EVERYTHING TOWARD LIGHT. THAT IS FROM THE CATECHISM 1085. THE CROSS AND THE RESURRECTION ABIDES AND DRAWS EVERYTHING TOWARDS LIFE. IT LOOKS LIKE AN IMAGE OF DEATH AND HISTORICALLY INDEED IT WAS. BUT IT DRAWS EVERYTHING TOWARDS LIFE WITH A CAPITAL L. WE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT ON THE MEMORIAL OF ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM. AN EARLY CHURCH FATHER. THE GOLDEN MOUTH. HE FALLS WITHIN THE OCTAVE. HOW LUCKY IS HE? SEPTEMBER 13 TO BE FALLING WITHIN THE OCTAVE. ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM. WE EXALT CHRIST'S CROSS WHENEVER WE FREELY TAKE IT UP OUR SELF, FILLED WITH THE CERTAINTY THE THAT THE ULTIMATE MEANING AND FULFILLMENT WE CRAVE IN LIFE COMES TO US THROUGH THIS HISTORICAL EVENT. BECAUSE IT LEADS EVERYTHING TOWARD LIFE. EVEN THE NEW HEAVENS AND THE NEW EARTH AT THE END OF TIME. ST. THEODORE THE STUDITE SAYS, WITH THE CROSS WE ARE FREED FROM THE RESTRAINT OF THE ENEMY AND WE CLUTCH ONTO THE STRENGTH OF SALVATION ITSELF. FOR SALVATION MEANS ESCAPE FROM OUR OWN INABILITY BECAUSE WE ARE SO WEAK. IN OTHER WORDS WE NEED HELP TOWARD SALVATION. AND THAT HELP IS PRECISELY IN THE CROSS OF JESUS CHRIST. AT THE SAME TIME WE CANNOT PRODUCE OR GIVE ANY OTHER FRUIT WRITES ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA, THE GREAT DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH. BUT THE FRUIT WE HAVE TAKEN FROM THE TREE OF LIFE. EMBRACING SUFFERING. UNITING THAT SUFFERING TO THE CROSS OF CHRIST. POPE ST. LEO THE GREAT. NO WONDER THAT THE SIGN OF THE CROSS MAKES KINGS OF ALL THOSE REBORN IN CHRIST, THROUGH BAPTISM. AND ST. ROSE OF LIMA. THE EXULTATION OF THE CROSS STEMS FROM THE TRUTH THAT APART FROM THE CROSS THERE IS NO OTHER LADDER BY WHICH WE MAY GET TO HEAVEN. UNITING OUR SUFFERINGS WITH CHRIST ON THE CROSS. CHRIST WON OUR SALVATION ON THE CROSS REDEEMING US FROM SIN AND MERITING ALL THE GRACE AS WE CONTINUE TO RECEIVE THROUGH THE 7 SACRAMENTS. MADE POSSIBLE BY THAT RIGHT THERE. HIS DEATH ON THE CROSS. EXALTING THE MOST HOLY CROSS EACH YEAR ON SEPTEMBER 14, IT ENCOURAGES US IN THE MIDST OF OUR OWN SUFFERINGS, ASSURING US THAT SUFFERING IS A SIGN NOT THAT GOD HAS ABANDONED US TO QUOTE POPE BENEDICT THE 16TH AGAIN, BUT THAT WE ARE BEING INVITED INTO CLOSER UNION WITH THE SAVIOR. HE IS DOING THIS. THAT IS WHAT HE IS DOING. THIS MUCH. EXALTING THE HOLY CROSS EACH YEAR ENCOURAGES US IN THE MIDST OF OUR OWN SUFFERINGS, ASSURING US THAT SUFFERING IS A SIGN NOT THE THAT GOD HAS ABANDONED US, BUT WE ARE BEING INVITED INTO CLOSER UNION WITH OUR SAVIOR. THOMAS HOWARD THE 3RD CATHOLIC DUKE IN ENGLAND, SAYS THIS IS WHY CHRISTIANS SEE THEMSELVES AS A PEOPLE UNDER THE SIGN OF THE MOST HOLY CROSS. IT IS THE SIGN OF THEIR SALVATION. IT IS THEIR ENSIGN. THEIR BANNER. THEIR COVER. THERE PLEA. AND IT IS THEIR GLORY. THIS IS WHY CHRISTIANS SEE THEMSELVES AS A PEOPLE UNDER THE SIGN OF THE CROSS. IT IS THE SIGN OF THEIR SALVATION. IT IS THEIR ENSIGN, THEIR BANNER, THEIR COVER, THEIR PLEA AND THEIR GLORY. AMEN? WHO DO PEOPLE SAY THAT I AM? YOU ARE THE CHRIST THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD. NEVER FORGET THAT, MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS. GOD BLESS YOU.
