Son of Man be lifted up

Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Year C

On the 14th September the Church celebrates the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Tomorrow, we will celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows.

This feast was first celebrated in the Eastern Church. In the 5th century, in Jerusalem, this was celebrated in the same way Christians celebrated Easter. It was the anniversary of the dedication of the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre, the day, which according to tradition, the Holy Cross was found. The cross, which is a sign of victory, which Jesus made in the Pascal Mystery.

In the readings of the Liturgy of the Hours, for today, we read:

On a hill far away, stood an old, rugged Cross
The emblem of suffering and shame
And I love that old Cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

In Jesus’ time, death on the cross, was one of the cruellest and of suffering. The worst of people were condemned to this type of death. However, after the crucifixion of Jesus, the cross became a sign of hope, for the Christians. In fact, when we pray the Way of the Cross, we repeat, “We adore you, o Christ and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.” This is the reason, why we Christians, exalt the cross on which Jesus died.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us that he became man to save us. He did not come to condemn, because “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.”

Apart from reminding us of God’s great love for us, today’s feast also reminds us of suffering. Everyone suffers, not only us adults, even children suffer. How do we face our suffering, both big and small? What is our advice to our children when they are suffering or going through a bad patch? We should offer these sacrifices. Has anyone ever told you to “offer your suffering”? These are not futile words. When we offer our sufferings, we will be joining our suffering with Jesus on the cross. We can offer our suffering for others, or for ourselves, so that we become better persons. Offering our suffering will help us get through our difficult and dark times. Jesus suffered and died for us. When we offer our suffering for others, we will be imitating Jesus.

A reading from the Gospel according to John (Jn 3, 13-17)

Jesus said to Nicodemus: “No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. And 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.”

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might 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.

The Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ

  1. Read the Gospel story so that you are familiar with it.
  2. Reflect on what the Gospel story is saying to you. Which points would you highlight and why?
  3. From the cross, Jesus forgave those who crucified him. How long has it been since you went to confession? Go to confession with your family.
  4. We see the cross everywhere, even in our homes. Have you ever stopped in front of the crucifix and reflected on why Jesus was ready to accept death on the cross? Find time, to stop and quietly look and contemplate the cross.
  5. Try and go to an adoration chapel and reflect on these words: “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.” What do these words mean to you? It would be great, if your family can accompany you to the adoration chapel.
  6. Together with your family find the right time to read this Gospel. The environment helps, so before you start, prepare;
    i. The Bible reading from St John (3, 13-17)
    ii. A candle
    iii. Cover the table with a red cloth
    v. A computer/laptop with the readings and clips
  7. Go through the steps with your children (2 age groups are being suggested).
  8. Feel free to adapt to your situation
  9. Be creative 😊 

Today the Church is celebrating the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. What is exaltation? This sounds like a difficult word, doesn’t it? Do you have any idea what it could mean?

In easy-to-understand words, exaltation means to praise and feel joy. So, are we to feel happy when we see Jesus on the cross? Let us listen to today’s Gospel, maybe it will help us understand better why the cross brings us joy.

  • Jesus died on the cross because he loves us 
  • Everyday we should try to become better children 
  • Printout of the activity 
  • Colours 
  • Gel/glitter pens 
  • Construction paper 
  • Glue  
  • Double sided foam tape 
  • Scissors  
Activity printoutDownload

What will help us, if we need to cook something? (a recipe) 

What will help us, if we need to go somewhere? (a map) 

Why do we need traffic lights, lighthouses, labels on food products? (the traffic lights and the lighthouse, help to avoid terrible accidents, the labels on food products let us know what is in the product and help us avoid ingredients which may harm us). 

In today’s Gospel, Jesus refers to a story which had happened many years earlier. We find this story in the Old Testament. There was once, during the time of Moses, when people were being bitten by snakes, and they died. God in his mercy, told Moses to make a snake out of bronze, and when the people looked at it, they were healed. In the same way we use recipes to give us good food, and we look at the colour of the traffic lights to cross safely, the people who were bitten looked at the bronze snake to be healed. 

However, Jesus did not stop at this story. Jesus mentioned the cross (so must the Son of Man be lifted up) and his teaching. Jesus said, that if we want to go to heaven, we are to do as he asks us. Just as the recipe book, the map and the traffic lights help us in our everyday life, Jesus is our help if we want to go to heaven. 

To help us remember that Jesus loves us, we are going to make a cross. You will colour it and when it is ready, you will put it in your room, and every time you look at it, you will make the sign of the cross and remember that Jesus loves you. Make a printout of today’s activity. If you like, you can glue it to construction paper, so that it stays up better in your room. Colour the cross and the hearts. Colour the hearts which are on a separate paper too. Cut out these hearts and using double sided foam tape, stick these hearts on the ones matching them. Use gel or glitter pens to go over the words at the bottom of the picture, we heard these words in today’s Gospel. 

Sign of the cross (if the children do you yet know how to make the sign of the cross, use this to help them) 

Look at the cross and say this prayer (repeat it three times) 

We adore you, o Christ and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross, you have redeemed the world. 

Listen to the song, John 3:16, which is about the verse we have just coloured.

Today we celebrate the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Every year, the Church celebrates this feast, on the 14th September. 

Do you know who St Helen is? If you live at B’Kara, most probably you know who this saint is. St Helen was the one who found the cross Jesus was crucified on. It was found in Jerusalem. Today’s feast celebrates this finding, and more than that it also celebrates the great love Jesus has for us, when he died on the cross to save us. Exaltation means to praise. What is there to praise about a cross? No one praises a cross, unless it is the one on which Jesus died. This cross is a symbol of salvation. For us, who believe in Jesus, the cross is the symbol of victory over death and eternal life with Jesus in heaven. 

  • God gave us a great gift when Jesus became man 
  • We accept this gift when we love and believe in Jesus 
  • A4 construction paper 
  • Printout of the page with the world 
  • Blue construction paper 
  • Brown construction paper 
  • Printout of the cross on white construction paper 
  • Printout of the heart on red construction paper 
  • Scissors 
  • Glue 
  • Colour 
  • Colour pencils / gel pens 
  • Double sided foam tape (optional) 
Activity Download

In today’s Gospel, Jesus is talking with Nicodemus. Jesus reminds Nicodemus about something which had happened many years earlier. This was when, the Jews were in the desert, and they were being bitten by snakes, and they were dying. God ordered Moses to make a snake of bronze, and if those who were bitten looked at this snake, they were saved. Jesus compares himself with this snake of bronze. Like the snake, he too, was to be lifted high. When was Jesus lifted high? (when he was crucified) Jesus died on the cross, so that we would be saved. Jesus died on the cross for everyone. 

Jesus also said that those who followed him, that is, those who did what he wished, they will be saved. To be saved means, that we will live with Jesus, in heaven, forever. Jesus became man to show us how we are to live. He did not become man to accuse and condemn those who lived in sin. Just as those who were healed in Moses’ time when they looked at the snake, those who look to Jesus and follow him, they too will be saved. 

There is no greater gift than eternal life. When we do as Jesus wishes, we are accepting the gift God gave us. What comes to mind, when we say, ‘someone was lifted up’? Most probably you imagine some player who helped the team to win a game. This player is lifted high, because everyone is happy that he played so well. We are similarly happy when we remember that Jesus did not remain dead, instead, he rose from the dead and went up to heaven.  

If you win a medal or cup, for coming first in a race, where will you put it? Most probably you will put it somewhere where you can see it, so that you remember this great moment. That is a good thing to do. In the same way, in our homes, we should have a cross or crucifix (a cross with Jesus on it), to remind us how much Jesus loves us. In today’s activity you will make a cross and when you are ready, you can leave it in your room, so that when you wake up and before you go to sleep, you remember Jesus. 

Cut out the shape of the world from the blue (sea) construction paper. From the printout of the world, cut out the land parts, and cut these out from the brown construction paper. Stick the land on the blue circle. Stick the globe on the A4 construction paper. Cut out the cross and the heart. Use gel pens or pencil colours to go over the words on the heart. Stick the cross on the globe and the heart on the cross. For a nicer effect, you may use double sided foam tape to stick the cross to the globe and the heart to the cross. Hang this picture in your room and remember to make the sign of the cross when you wake up and before going to sleep.  

Whilst making this activity, listen to John 3:16 .

Sign of the cross. 

Thank you, Lord that you love us so much, that you sent your son Jesus to save us. Help us to love each other more. We ask this in Jesus’ name. 

Whilst looking at the cross (repeat slowly, the following prayer for three times) 

We adore you, o Christ and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross, you have redeemed the world. 

How to use this space

God speaks to us in many ways, including through the Sunday Scripture readings. Here you will find useful background and activities to better understand the upcoming Sunday's Scripture readings, helping you to connect the Scripture to daily life in a meaningful way.