A small boy made a toy sail-boat.

He fashioned it with a great care.

With much pride and love, he admired his creation – with its fresh blue and white paint as he was ready to sail it in the nearby stream.

Unfortunately, as the toy boat set sailing, a strong wind rushed on, and the boat escaped from the little boy’s fingers and from his sight…
…. Down the stream went the boat from it’s grief-stricken owner!

The boy gazed in shock and dismay, but was unable to get it back.

A few weeks later, the boy happened to be walking down the street near his house, when his eyes chanced upon something blue and white in colour, that was displayed in a toy shop.

He went to look closer… and to his grand surprise, he recognised it as his own boat – his lovely creation!

He rushed inside the shop and demanded that the man give his boat.
> However, he was accorded a blunt refusal.

The shopkeeper claimed that he had paid for the little boat and if the boy wanted it, he would have to pay.

The boy was saddened.
> He knew that the shopkeeper was lying to him.
> He knew that it was his boat – the one he had shaped with his own hands, with much love.

“I have to get back my precious boat”, said the boy to himself.

With this determination, the boy went to join for work in a nearby shop, and in a few weeks time, managed to collect the required amount.

With money in his hands, the boy, once again, entered the toy shop and demanded his boat.

The shopkeeper had to accept the money and hand over the boat.

As the little boy, with a beaming face, left the shop, he made a tender statement to the little boat:
“You are mine, little boat..You are mine!
Twice mine; once because I made you, and twice because I bought you”

How beautiful is this an illustration of our own lives…..
> We have been bought by Christ…. at the price of His life and His blood!

Today we celebrate the Feast of the instrument that was employed by Divinity in buying our souls to Himself – the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

In today’s Gospel (Jn 3: 13-17), Jesus tells to Nicodemus, “.. as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life” (Jn 3: 14)

Centuries before Jesus was crucified, Divinity in its Immense Wisdom was already preparing for the plan of salvation!

Having been powerfully freed from the slavery in Egypt, the people of Israel were travelling to the Promised Land through the wilderness.

>> However, this difficult journey cause the people to lose their patience, and they murmured against God and His servant, Moses on the lack of comforts!

The result of this sin was the plague of poisonous serpents, that caused suffering and death to them.

However at the intercession of Moses, God had him lift up a bronze serpent on a pole, so that all who looked it would be healed!

This was the foreshadowing of the Cross of Christ!

Like the people of Israel, our life is often a journey through the wilderness.
> Sometimes there is a lack of comfort.
> Sometimes there is an inflation of hardships
> Sometimes there is an increase in uncertainty.
… And we begin to complain, grumble… falling into many sinful ways and habits!

But Divine Love, wanting to have us back to Him, provides us the means to be rescued from the deadly effects of such sins…
… The Holy Cross is the Symbol of this redemption and salvation that is won for us, by Christ!

Are we ready to take refuge in the shadows of this Holy Cross, and affirming our sincere acceptance of Christ in our lives, do we live a holy life, worthy of our salvation?

Usually the heart is considered to be the symbol of Love..
>> But, from a Christian perspective, probably, the Holy Cross is the most beautiful and apt symbol of the Immense love of God for each one of us.

> The Cross demands sacrifice…
> The Cross demands an self-emptying nature…
> The Cross demands a complete commitment…
.. And this is indeed the true nature of love  – sacrificial, self-emptying and committed!

As we honour and venerate the Holy Cross, may we hear the words of our Crucified Lord, tenderly whispering to us, with deep love and affection:
“You are mine, little one… You are mine!
Twice mine; once because I made you, and twice because I bought you”

Wish you a very Happy Feast of the Holy Cross!

God Bless! Live Jesus!