Sr. Mary Ann, MSBT reflects on the Gospel for the Fourth Sunday in Lent, March 10, 2024. You can find the Gospel Reading by clicking this link.

Borrowing from the wisdom of this cartoon character helps capture an image for me in the gospel passage: “Jesus said to Nicodemus: Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the son of man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”

Whenever we look up at that Crucifix we can say, “Keep looking up… that’s the secret of eternal life!”

Our Book of Customs says: “the cross is the symbol of our redemption. Whenever we see it, we salute it, with prayer…as an expression of our desire to exalt the cross of our savior.”

Fr. Thomas A. Judge wrote that “we cannot look upon that cross without knowing that thereupon was paid the price of our soul’s salvation. It is the instrument of the redemption of the world.”

Joyce Rupp writes: “The way of the cross is being lived daily by people coming face to face with their burdens, suffering and pain. These crosses can be powerful sources of personal and spiritual growth.” In the providence of our daily lives we can be “angels along the way to lead others and ourselves to triumph.”

Fr. Judge said, “…if you encourage yourself to often think that the triumph of that cross is to be your own triumph,” then you cannot be lost.

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.