TRIUMPH OF THE CROSS(Exaltation of the Cross)

The power of the Cross

Today we celebrate the feast of the exaltation of the Cross. After dying on the Cross, Jesus made the Cross Holy. And today all people bow before the Cross.

Once a man by climbing in a tall coconut tree, refused to come down. First the police came and pleaded with him to come down, but nothing happened. Then the firefighters came and they tried their best to bring him down but he refused. Then at last, a catholic priest was asked to help him. The priest came and made a sing of the cross, then the man immediately came down. And everybody praised and worshiped the cross. Then they asked the priest to explain the power of the cross. The priest simply said, "by making the sign of the Cross, I indicated to him, "if you do not come down, I will surely cut the tree down".

Today Snoop Dogg has more crosses on his body than the Holy Father. Without knowing the power of the cross, many people are using the cross for everything. the fashion and the tattoo industries manipulate the usage of the cross today. For example, cross is used as nose, ear and even navel rings.

The very blessing of the sign of the cross has power. when we bless ourselves, we say in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit. when we say the word father, we touch our forehead and by touching the forehead, we ask God who is the creator to bless us so that we may think well and good.

Once two Buddhists monks were going to a village to preach and when they came to a river bank, they saw a beautiful woman standing, afraid of crossing the river. And one of the priest helped her by carrying on his shoulder. when they went back to the monastery, the other monk went to everybody and said, "we, monks are not even allowed to look at women but this monk carried her on his shoulder". so the monk who helped her said to him, "I left her on the bank long time ago and why are you still carrying her in your mind?"

Our mind is a powerful weapon that should be trained and disciplined well, if not, we have to face so much challenges. And that is why when we touch our forehead we ask God to bless us and thus we may think divine things and be good to all.

When we say the word son, we touch our heart and ask Jesus to bless us so that we may love everyone as our brother and sister and accept them without any condition.

once a rabbi asked his disciples, "how do you know that the night is gone and the day is here?" And every one came up with different answers. One said, "when you see a tree in distance and if you could say whether it is a fig tree or a peach tree, then you may say that the night is gone and the day is here" then the other said, "when you see an animal in distance and if you could say whether it is a sheep or a goat, then you may say that the night is gone and the day is here". But the Rabbi was not satisfied with their many answers and said, "when you see the face of your own brother or sister in any human being, then you may proudly say that the night is gone and the day is here".

Today we have so many problems in society because we struggle to accept others as our brothers and sisters. So many wars, killings are going on and on because of the difficulty of acceptance. By touching our heart, we ask Jesus to bless us so that we love everyone as our brothers and sisters.

And by saying the word Holy Spirit, we touch our both shoulder and ask the Holy Spirit to bless us so that we may put our faith and love in action. Faith without action is dead.

Once a holy man prayed to God saying, 'God, I am a very faithful person and I am old now and I have to look after my family. Since I do not have money, please let me win a lottery and God said, "yes, you will win a lottery". Months passed and years passed, he never won a lottery and one day out of desperation, the man prayed to God saying,"God, give me a break..." And that night, god appeared to him and said, "you give me a break. if you want to win a lottery, you should at least buy a ticket".

Any one who says, "Lord, Lord, will not enter into the kingdom of God but only those who put their faith into action" says the Lord.

The cross has the power and when we bless ourselves with the sing of the Cross, let us remember to ask God to bless us, ask Jesus to be with us and ask the Holy Spirit to guide us. Amen.