“For God so loved the world…”
Reflection for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
The night conversation with Nicodemus is arguably the most intimate dialogue in the Gospels. In this exchange, Jesus reveals the depths of God’s love and mercy. The Father loves the world—every human being, without exception. In the writings of John, we often hear assurances of the Father’s love for the disciples, those who follow the Son. However, it is only in this passage that we learn God sent His Son for everyone, not just for one group, nation, or cohort. Not only did He send His Son, but He also entrusted Him to the world, fully aware that the world would hate, reject, persecute, and ultimately kill Him. God’s love is unchanging; He still loves the world. In each of us, Nicodemus represents the continual search for Christ, coming at night to express our doubts and fears, and to hear His declaration of love and encouragement to believe in Him.
This gospel passage lies at the very heart of Dominican preaching. Our Holy Father, Dominic, tirelessly evangelized during the day and prayed at night for the salvation of all, shedding tears of compassion and asking, “What will become of sinners?” Today, we are continually called to spread the Good News to the ends of the earth and to work for the Kingdom of Heaven. Like Christ, we may face ridicule, mockery, persecution, isolation, and even death for our testimony. We all experience discouragement at times; foreseeing His Cross, Jesus endured immense anguish. However, He loved the Father’s will, and the Father loved the world, desiring salvation for everyone. We must remember that our Master was lifted up on the Cross, and because of this, “God greatly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name” (Philippians 2:9).
The Exaltation of the Cross is not about celebrating an instrument of torture. Instead, we commemorate Christ’s total sacrifice. We lift the Cross in our churches, our homes, and most importantly, in our hearts. By doing so, we remind ourselves and others that God “gave His only Son so that everyone who believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John3:16). We do not need to wonder if our message is heard and accepted; we must focus on the Cross of our Lord, which symbolizes His ultimate victory over sin and death. Additionally, we should remain attentive, as He is always ready to whisper the unshakable assurance of His love and faithfulness to our troubled hearts.
