How does an instrument of death become the source of life? On the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Dr. Brant Pitre traces the cross from the bronze serpent in the desert to John 3:16.
The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (September 14) celebrates the cross of Christ as the instrument of our salvation. In The Mass Readings Explained, Dr. Brant Pitre walks through the readings and shows how they turn a sign of shame into the sign of life.
Numbers 21 recounts the bronze serpent that Moses lifted up so that all who looked on it would live; Psalm 78 recalls the wonders of the Exodus; Philippians 2 hymns the Christ who humbled himself “to death on a cross” and was exalted; and in John 3 Jesus links the serpent “lifted up” to the Son of Man lifted up, leading into “God so loved the world” (John 3:16). Dr. Pitre unfolds the typology of the serpent and the Son of Man, the movement from seeing to believing, and the tradition of Bede on the cross as the cure for sin and death.
GOSPEL, FIRST READING & PSALM TRANSCRIPT (Subscribe or Login for Full Transcript):
September 14th is the Solemnity of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, and this is one of those feasts, one of those solemnities in the Roman calendar that is so significant that when it falls on a Sunday, it actually will replace the Sunday Mass. And so the Church celebrates it every year on the 14th, but on years when that date will fall on a Sunday, the Church will come together even at Sunday Mass to commemorate the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
GOSPEL, FIRST READING & PSALM TRANSCRIPT (Subscribe or Login for Full Transcript):
September 14th is the Solemnity of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, and this is one of those feasts, one of those solemnities in the Roman calendar that is so significant that when it falls on a Sunday, it actually will replace the Sunday Mass. And so the Church celebrates it every year on the 14th, but on years when that date will fall on a Sunday, the Church will come together even at Sunday Mass to commemorate the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
The Readings for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Year B
First Reading: Numbers 21:4b–9
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 78:1–2, 34–38
Second Reading: Philippians 2:6–11
Gospel: John 3:13–17
Key passages & sources examined: the fiery serpents and the bronze serpent lifted up (Num 21); “salvation by sight” and the serpent as a “sign”; Christ's self-emptying and exaltation (Phil 2); the Son of Man “lifted up” and John 3:16; the serpent–Son of Man typology; Venerable Bede, Homilies on the Gospels.
What are the Mass readings for the Exaltation of the Holy Cross? Numbers 21:4b–9; Psalm 78; Philippians 2:6–11; and the Gospel, John 3:13–17.
What is the Exaltation of the Holy Cross? A feast on September 14 honoring the cross of Christ as the means of our redemption; so significant that it can replace the Sunday Mass when it falls on a Sunday.
How does the bronze serpent connect to the cross? As those bitten looked on the bronze serpent and lived, so those who look in faith to the crucified Christ — the Son of Man “lifted up” — are saved.
What does John 3:16 proclaim? That God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that whoever believes in him might have eternal life.
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I'm amazed by these lectures, I learn so many things and I hear so many things Ive never heard before. Love how dr Brant Pitre answers complicated questions at the end of the lectures.
This was another great and informative lecture on Catholic teachings concerning a Catholic belief not shared by our Christian brothers and sisters. And, like his other lectures on the Jewish Roots of our Faith, Dr. Pitre gives great insight using biblical texts, history and language lessons. But, this left me burning questions Dr. Pitre did not ask or answer: When, after death, is purgatory? Do our resurrected bodies partake in purgatory? If those who experience purgatory are saved then how does the doctrine of the beatific vision play into all this? Maybe these questions are answered in another lecture?
I'm amazed by these lectures, I learn so many things and I hear so many things Ive never heard before. Love how dr Brant Pitre answers complicated questions at the end of the lectures.
This was another great and informative lecture on Catholic teachings concerning a Catholic belief not shared by our Christian brothers and sisters. And, like his other lectures on the Jewish Roots of our Faith, Dr. Pitre gives great insight using biblical texts, history and language lessons. But, this left me burning questions Dr. Pitre did not ask or answer: When, after death, is purgatory? Do our resurrected bodies partake in purgatory? If those who experience purgatory are saved then how does the doctrine of the beatific vision play into all this? Maybe these questions are answered in another lecture?
