September 14, 2023, Thursday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time-A THE EXALTATION OF THE CROSS

Numbers 21:4-9

Psalm 78

Philippians 2:6-11

John 3:13-17

…becoming obedient to death… Phil 2:8

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.  John 3:19

Lord, it is good for us to get back to the basics of what we believe. We can get so involved in the many beautiful and diverse aspects of our religious practice that we can look beyond what our faith is all about. St. John spelled out in one verse the foundation upon which everything else rests. Out of love you became one of us and gave your life to a cruel death so that we could be restored to right relationship with our Father. This is the act that saves us. We cannot save ourselves no matter how many prayers we say, how much we fast or how much money we give to the poor. This day celebrates why we have hope. This day celebrates your victory over death. This day reminds us of what is truly the bottom line of all we believe about you. Thank you, dear Jesus, for becoming like me and giving me eternal life through the wood of the cross.  Amen.