Sunday Reflection: The Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Reflection on the Catholic Readings for September 14, 2025 (Year C): The Exaltation of the Holy Cross

As we gather in prayer and reflection on this solemn feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, the readings for September 14, 2025, invite us into the profound mystery of suffering redeemed by love, division healed through unity, and the transformative power of lifting high the symbol of Christ's sacrifice. In Year C of the liturgical cycle, these scriptures speak directly to our fractured world, reminding us that true Christian witness is not found in the clamor of division but in the quiet embrace of reconciliation and compassion. Today, as we contemplate the Cross, we are called to examine our own lives—and those of public figures who claim the name of Christ—in light of this exalted standard.

The first reading from Numbers 21:4b-9 recounts the Israelites' weary journey through the desert, where their impatience and complaints against God and Moses lead to fiery serpents sent as a consequence of their rebellion. In their suffering, the people repent, and God instructs Moses to fashion a bronze serpent and mount it on a pole, so that all who look upon it in faith may be healed. This ancient image prefigures the Cross, where our gaze upon Christ's wounds brings salvation from the venom of sin and discord. The responsorial psalm, from Philippians 2:6-11, echoes this by hymning Christ's self-emptying humility: "He humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him." Here, we see the paradox of Christian life—descent into suffering leads to exaltation, not through power or division, but through obedient love that unites.

The Gospel from John 3:13-17 brings this to its fulfillment in Jesus' words 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." God did not send his Son to condemn the world but to save it, emphasizing mercy over judgment. These readings challenge us: In a time of political violence and ideological strife, do we "look upon" the Cross to find healing, or do we perpetuate the "fiery serpents" of bitterness and exclusion? The feast calls us to exalt the Cross not as a weapon of division, but as a bridge of unity, where Christ's arms stretched wide embrace all humanity.

This reflection takes on a poignant urgency in light of recent events, particularly the tragic shooting of Charlie Kirk on September 11, 2025, at Utah Valley University. Kirk, the 31-year-old conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot by 22-year-old Tyler Robinson during an outdoor debate on gun violence, an act described by authorities as a targeted assassination born of deep ideological disdain. Videos captured the chaos as Kirk fell mid-speech before a crowd of thousands, igniting national mourning and vigils across the U.S. While Kirk often invoked Christian rhetoric in his political activism—framing issues like immigration, education, and cultural wars in terms of moral absolutes—his approach frequently sowed division rather than the unity Christ models on the Cross. His public persona emphasized confrontation over dialogue, labeling opponents as enemies and prioritizing partisan victories over the Gospel's call to mercy and reconciliation. In this sense, Kirk's witness, though fervent, fell short of authentic Christianity as portrayed in today's readings. The Israelites' complaints in the desert mirror the divisive complaints that can poison discourse; Kirk's legacy, marked by such rhetoric, serves as a cautionary tale. True faith, as the bronze serpent teaches, requires looking beyond our grievances to the healing gaze of Christ, not fueling the very serpents of hatred that lead to violence like the one that claimed his life. His death reminds us that no amount of proclaimed piety can substitute for the humble obedience that exalts the Cross through acts of unity.

In stark contrast, today marks the 70th birthday of Pope Leo XIV (born Robert Francis Prevost on September 14, 1955, in Chicago), whose life and pontificate embody the authentic Christianity of the readings we ponder. Elected in May 2025 as the first American-born pope following the death of Pope Francis, Leo XIV—drawing from his Augustinian roots and dual U.S.-Peruvian citizenship—has emerged as a beacon of reconciliation in a divided world. Choosing the name Leo to honor his predecessor Leo XIII's social teachings amid modern challenges like AI and inequality, he has consistently sought to unite rather than divide. In his video message to the Lampedusa migrant welcome event just days ago, he proclaimed, "There is no justice without compassion," urging a "culture of reconciliation" to counter the "globalisation of impotence" that leaves us paralyzed by injustice. Embracing Francis's legacy on issues like outreach to LGBTQ+ Catholics, as affirmed in his recent meeting with Fr. James Martin, Leo XIV models the self-emptying love of Philippians: not wielding authority for control, but for teaching, sanctifying, and governing in communion. His early calls for peace, Marian devotion, and emphasis on encounter over ideology reflect the exalted Cross—lifted high not to condemn, but to save. As Rodrigo Guerra noted in a recent interview, Leo XIV transcends simplistic labels of conservatism or liberalism, enduring criticism with a commitment to the Church's communion, proving himself a "gift we don’t deserve" in these times. On his birthday, we celebrate this authentic witness: a pope who, like Christ, humbles himself to build bridges, offering healing to a world wounded by division.

As we conclude this reflection, let us commit to exalting the Holy Cross in our daily lives. May the example of Pope Leo XIV inspire us to reject the divisive paths exemplified in tragedies like Charlie Kirk's shooting, and instead embrace the unifying mercy of Christ. In looking upon the Cross, may we find the strength to heal our divisions, foster reconciliation, and live as true disciples. Happy birthday, Holy Father—may God continue to exalt you in service to His Church.