This Sunday, we celebrate the Exaltation of the Cross. At first glance, the cross seems like a sign of pain, defeat, and shame. But in our faith, the cross has become the clearest sign of God’s love. Through it, He gave His only Son so that we might be saved (John 3:16). The cross, once an instrument of death, has become the gateway to life and hope.
In our First Reading (Numbers 21:4–9), the Israelites were bitten by poisonous serpents because of their grumbling and lack of trust in God. But when they looked at the bronze serpent that Moses lifted up, they found healing. It is the same with us: when we are “bitten” by the serpents of problems, sin, or trials, we are invited to look at the cross to find hope and salvation.
Likewise, in the Second Reading (Philippians 2:6–11), Christ humbled Himself and became obedient even unto death—yes, death on the cross. That is why God exalted Him and gave Him the name above every name. The cross is not a symbol of weakness but of humility and the victory of love.
And in the Gospel according to John (John 3:13 17), we hear the very heart of our faith: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but may have eternal life.” This is the very heart of the message of the cross: unconditional love. It reminds us that we do not need to prove ourselves to be loved by God, because He loves us fully and truly.
If we think about it, it is as though God is also telling us the words of the song “Andito Ako” by Ogie Alcasid: “Andito ako, umiibig sa’yo, kahit na nagdurugo ang puso ko. At kung sakaling iwanan ka niya, huwag kang mag-alala, may nagmamahal sa’yo, andito ako.”
In English: Here I am, loving you, even if my heart is bleeding. And if he leaves you, don’t worry, someone loves you—here I am. Isn’t this the very message of the cross? That even when the world abandons us, even when people hurt us, God remains with us and faithful. He is always telling us, “Here I am.”
So, brothers and sisters, every time we look at the cross, let us ask ourselves: Do we see the cross as a sign of defeat, or as a sign of love? And beyond that, how can I also be a “here I am” for my neighbor—especially for those who are wounded, alone, and in need of love and compassion?
The cross is not only a memory of the past; it is a living reminder of God’s presence here and now. And every time we face our own crosses, may we hear God’s whisper: “I love you. I will never leave you. Here I am.”
