St. Matthew Catholic Church

Weekly Message     

37. The Cross: Our Hope of Salvation

Dear brothers and sisters,   

     At first glance, the Cross is an instrument of torture and death. Yet through the lens of faith, we see a profound paradox — that through suffering came salvation, and through death came life; the glorious sign of victory, love, and hope.

     Imagine a mountain climber ascending a steep path. On their back is a heavy backpack, filled not with rocks, but with essential tools: food, water, rope, first-aid supplies. At times, the weight feels unbearable. The climber is tempted to throw the pack aside and walk freely. But here’s the twist; without that pack, the climber would not survive. It is the very weight that enables the journey. Thus, Christ did not avoid the Cross; He embraced it. He transformed it forever into the bridge between heaven and earth.

     When the people of Israel were bitten by deadly serpents, Moses lifted up a bronze serpent in the desert (Num. 21:4–9) for the people to gaze upon the bronze serpent to be healed. This was not magic, it was a test of faith and obedience. It pointed forward to a greater healing to come.

     Today, we are called to gaze on the cross as "the hope of our salvation"; we acknowledge that it is not merely a past event, but a present reality. It stands in the center of our Christian journey; it is our anchor, firm and secure; it reminds us that we are not abandoned; it stands as the sign that God is with us.

     Let us, therefore, boast in the cross [Gal. 6:14]. Let us pray thus: “We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You, because by Your holy Cross, You have redeemed the world." Let our daily cross bring a crown of glory.

Prayers and Blessings!

Msgr. Xavier Pappu
                                               Bishop Kelly's Pastoral Letter 
                                              Carta Pastoral - Pentecostes -Espanol

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