so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
Yes, God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that whoever believes in him may
not be lost, but may have eternal life. God did not send the Son into the world to condemn
the world; instead, through him the world is to be saved.

Reflect

“He gave His only Son.” Love is the very reason why God the Father sent his Son to
the world, to save the world and not to condemn it. On the cross, Jesus Christ saved the
world by carrying with him the sins of humanity (cf. 1 Pet 2:24). Jesus saved the world
by taking up the responsibility rather than finding someone to blame. The cross symbolizes
our salvation. It is also a symbol of the ongoing challenge that summons us to grow in
terms of responsibility. We may reflect on the point that the world being referred to in
today’s Gospel includes not only the world of human beings but also of the rest of the
natural world. When human beings fell into sin, failing to be more responsible, they
condemned not only themselves but also the natural world. On this Feast
of the Exaltation of the Cross, we reflect on God’s salvific act in Jesus that includes both
humanity and the natural world. Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ is now on its ninth year and yet
we may ask ourselves sincerely if we are living up to its challenge to care for our common
home. How is our lifestyle vis-à-vis the world which God loves so much?

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