SOCL, Holy CrossC

Sunday September 14, 2025

See

People undergoing counselling and therapy sometimes have a block or memory, which is holding them back, usually an earlier difficult experience of some kind. Something like that is happening in the Old Testament folk tale of the bronze serpents: the power of the serpents to cause harm is taken away once they are confronted straight in the eye, through the symbol of the bronze serpent. We may say the same of Jesus as he faced death for us. Being lifted up for our sake, he looked death in the eye and took away its power over us.

Listen

Numbers 21:4-9; Psalm 78 (77); Philippians 2:6-11; John 3:13-17

Reflect

(John 3:13-17)

In John’s Gospel the lifting up of Jesus on the cross is the climax of the revelation of God’s love for us. How has the cross spoken to you of the love we have been shown in Jesus?

Jesus says the purpose of his life is that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. In what ways has faith given you life and vitality?

Jesus said that he was sent to save and not to condemn. Remember what has helped you to see God as one who is fundamentally on your side in life, a God to be trusted and relied on rather than feared.

In presenting the purpose of his life as salvation rather than condemnation, Jesus tells us something about the purpose of every human life. It is to be lifegiving, rather than destructive of life. Recall times your life was enriched by the words or actions of another. Remember also when you were able to do the same for another person.

Pray

Lifted up among us, O God, is Jesus the crucified: sign of your steadfast love and pledge of your will to save. To those who look upon the cross with faith, grant healing of soul and life eternal. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.

The Word today, Holy CrossC

September 15 - September 20, 2025

Monday 15 September

Our Lady of Sorrows

1 Timothy 2:1-8 Why should we pray for everyone? Because God wants everyone to be saved and reach full knowledge of the truth. And so, we pray for all without distinction.

Luke 7:1-10 The story of the centurion/royal official is in all four Gospel. You may recognise in this appealing story a phrase we have come to use just before Holy Communion.

Tuesday 16 September

Sts Cornelius, bishop of Rome, and Cyprian, bishop, martyrs

1 Timothy 3:1-13 This job description of a good Christian leader is revealing: what was going on (even then!) that the writer needed to spell it out so?

Luke 7:11-17 You will notice the echoes of Elijah raising the widow’s son — all part of Luke’s portrait of Jesus as prophet par excellence.

Wednesday 17 September

St Robert Bellarmine, bishop, doctor; St Hildegard of Bingen, virgin, doctor

1 Timothy 3:14-16 Today, the writer quotes a brief early Christian hymn about Jesus. Even if the language is fairly oblique, all the essentials are there.

Luke 7:31-35 Some people can be very hard to please —a human reality which emerges clearly in this reading. Rejecting both John the Baptist and Jesus, their ingenuity is a warning for today. We too find ways around faith.

Thursday 18 September

1 Timothy 4:12-16 A young person in ministry can, understandably, feel a bit daunted. Our reading today offers encouragement not to lose heart.

Luke 7:36-50 The irritability of “holy” people is twice registered in this Gospel. Firstly, in the mind of the Pharisee, someone holy like Jesus ought not to allow anyone so obviously “unholy” to touch him. The parable offered is hardly rocket science! The discussion which follows draws out the blindingly obvious. But things get worse: Jesus pronounces forgiveness, which leads to even greater “holy” consternation.

Friday 19 September

St Januarius, bishop and martyr

1 Timothy 6:2-12 Even in those days, believer could go off the rails, led by leaders interested only in money. Our reading, in response, is both ironic and clear.

Luke 8:1-3 Women were important in Jesus’ ministry as well as in the very first generations of Christians. Today we get a rare view of the circle closest to Jesus, answering our very practical question of how did they all manage? With a lot of hidden help, apparently.

Saturday 20 September

Sts Andrew Kim Taegon, priest, and Paul Chong Hasang, and their companions, martyrs

1 Timothy 6:13-16 Our final excerpt from 1 Timothy is an exhortation to live a life in accordance with our convictions. The writer includes a hymn, looking forward to the final judgment and celebrating the mystery of God.

Luke 8:4-15 Today we are offered the parable of the sower and an early interpretation. Scholars of the Bible link the interpretation to the early church rather than to Jesus, because the focus is different. In the parable, the centre is sheer, astonishing abundance. In the applied interpretation the centre is on the hearer’s reaction to the word of God. We can choose to reflect on the gift or on our reception of the gift…or both!

References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2025cb, September 14). Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/091425.cfm

-Sunday readings. (n.d.-s). Hearers of the Word. https://www.tarsus.ie/SundayReadings

One another, Holy CrossC

September 14, 2025

Numbers 21:4-9; Psalm 78 (77); Philippians 2:6-11; John 3:13-17

In the cross our need meets God’s redemption In confidence and hope, we bring the prayers of our hearts for the transformation of the church and the world:

For the Church: that we who were signed with the cross at our baptism, may walk with Christ through the Paschal Mystery and allow God to guide us through all of life's trials: let us pray to the Lord.

For a renewal of faith: that the lifting up of Christ may open our hearts to experience God's great love and lead all to a deeper relationship with Christ: let us pray to the Lord.

For the grace to love unselfishly: that Christ's example of picking up the cross for us, may empowered us to love as Christ loved and never count the cost: let us pray to the Lord.

For all who are being persecuted or discriminated against for their Christian faith: that the cross of Christ will bring them strength and courage to remain faithful and continue to give witness to the Gospel: let us pray to the Lord.

For the ability to accept our vulnerability: that like Christ who emptied himself for us, we may accept our limits, be emptied of pride and the need to control, and allow God to work through us even when we feel weak: let us pray to the Lord.

For all who carry the cross each day; for parents of troubled children; for those struggling with addiction: and for those who have been abused: that Christ who has been lifted up will walk with them through the pain and into new life: let us pray to the Lord.

For all who have long-term illness or disability and for their families: that they may draw strength from the sufferings of Christ and hope from his resurrection: let us pray to the Lord.

For health and safety in our schools and colleges: that God will protect all students and faculty from violence and disease and help everyone to learn and grow in the coming months: let us pray to the Lord.

For leaders in governments, business, education, and religion: that they may follow the example of Christ and become servants to all the voiceless and marginalized of society: let us pray to the Lord.

For families who are broken and in turmoil: that Christ's example of love and service may guide them toward reconciliation and compassion for one another: let us pray to the Lord.

For all who are facing death: that the cross will bring strength and grace to those with terminal illness, those who live in danger of violence, and those who are awaiting execution, and lead them to Christ who is the resurrection and life: let us pray to the Lord.

For freedom from war and violence: that the cross of Christ will show the way to peace and new beginnings for all experiencing violence and bloodshed: let us pray to the Lord.

For peace: that the cross of Christ may illumine a new way to settle conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and South Sudan and open a path toward forgiveness and reconciliation: let us pray to the Lord.

Accept our prayers, God of mercy, in union with Jesus the Christ, who offered his life for our salvation upon the wood of the cross and who now reigns with you in eternal glory forever and ever. Amen.

References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2025cb, September 14). Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/091425.cfm

-Cormier, J. (1995). Lord, Hear Our Prayer: Prayer of the Faithful for Sundays, Holy Days, and Ritual Masses.

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