​​​​​Holy Infant Catholic Church

Father Michaels Weekly Thoughts 

WEEKLY THOUGHTS 24th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME SEPTEMBER 14th 2025

Dear friends, welcome to the celebration of the Exaltation of the Cross that falls on the 14th Sunday in Ordinary time and takes precedence.  The Cross to many people of the time of Jesus is a stumbling block, yet to believers is the source of salvation and victory over evil and Satan.

In the First Reading; Numbers 21: 4-9 the people sinned as they complained to Moses and God; why he brought them out of Egypt to die in the desert. God punished the people as serpents bit and killed many of them.

The same people realized their sin; turned to Moses and begged for forgiveness. Moses prayed and pleaded to God. He made a serpent, mounted it on a pole and it became a source of healing, to whoever was bitten by the serpents. This indeed prefigured Jesus, who after being lifted on the cross became the source of salvation and healing from sins.

In the Second Reading; 2: 6-11 the Apostle Paul teaches us about the humility of Jesus as a source of victory over sin and darkness. It is by his obedience and humility that Jesus submitted to the will of his Father to the level of becoming a slave and God his Father exalted him to be Lord.

In the Gospel of John 3: 13-17 again John speaks of the humility of Jesus as he came down from heaven to the earth. Jesus assumed our humanity. He was born and grew up in a simple family. His friends were simple and despised. Very few people were at his cross at the time of His death.

Just as Moses lifted the serpent on the pole, Jesus or Son of Man was equally lifted up for the salvation of all who believe in him. Jesus conquered the world not by the sword, but by the Cross -a symbol of fate and scorn.

For us believers, the Cross is a life-giving wood. It is a lifesaving and spiritual weapon against Satan and evil. Jesus’ way of self-emptying, self-sacrifice and self-surrender is the true way to salvation. It is a true way to walk the way of humility. It is the true way to salvation. May Jesus help me to embrace my cross with patience and hope.

Have a great week.