As we contemplate the mystery of the Cross in the liturgy of the Saturday after the Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost, our hearts are drawn to two profound passages: Philippians 2:5-11 and John 12:31-36. These texts invite us to meditate on the humility and glory of Christ, who, by His obedience unto death, exalted the instrument of His Passion, transforming the Cross from a sign of defeat into a symbol of victory.
The Humility and Exaltation of Christ (Philippians 2:5-11)
In his letter to the Philippians, St. Paul exhorts us to adopt the same mind as Christ, the mind of humility:
“Have this mind among yourselves, which was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil 2:5-11)
St. Paul here presents Christ as the model of total self-abandonment. The Son of God, possessing all the majesty and power of divinity, chose the path of kenosis—a self-emptying that culminated in His death on the Cross. The Fathers of the Church never cease to marvel at this paradox of the Incarnation and Passion. St. Cyril of Alexandria remarks, “The Only-begotten became man, but did not cease to be God. In taking our nature, He did not cast away His own, but being made lowly for us, He remained above the whole world.”
For the early Christians, this emptying of Christ led to a greater exaltation, for the Cross became the throne from which the King of Glory would reign. St. Athanasius echoes this sentiment when he writes, “The Word was not degraded by the body but rather the body was glorified by the Word.” Christ’s obedience unto death—even death on a cross—reveals a love that knows no bounds, a love that transforms suffering into the means of salvation. In this mystery of humility lies the key to exaltation: Christ is glorified because He humbled Himself for our sake.
The Cross as Judgment and Light (John 12:31-36)
In the Gospel of John, Jesus speaks of His impending Passion as the moment of judgment upon the world and the triumph of the Cross:
“Now is the judgment of this world, now shall the ruler of this world be cast out; and I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” (John 12:31-32)
The Cross, which in the eyes of the world seemed a moment of shame, is revealed as the hour of glory. Christ’s crucifixion is the moment when the ruler of this world, Satan, is overthrown, and the gates of Heaven are thrown open to all who will follow Him. St. Augustine, reflecting on this, observes, “What greater cause is there of our Lord’s exaltation than that He should be lifted up on the cross?” For Augustine, the Cross is not only a moment of exaltation but also the moment of judgment. The world’s values, rooted in pride and self-love, are overturned by the humility and love of Christ, who draws all men to Himself through the Cross.
Christ’s words, “I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself,” echo the prefigurement of the bronze serpent in the desert (Numbers 21:9), where those who looked upon the serpent were healed. St. John Chrysostom explains this further, saying, “He was lifted up on high, that He might draw to Himself all those who looked on Him.” By being “lifted up,” Christ inaugurates a new kingdom, where love conquers hatred, and life triumphs over death.
In the following verses, Jesus urges the crowd to walk in the light while they have the light:
“The light is among you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, lest the darkness overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” (John 12:35-36)
Here, Christ invites us to follow Him in His way of the Cross, which is the way of light. As St. Gregory the Great beautifully explains, “The Cross is the lamp which sheds its light upon the world.” By embracing the Cross, we not only share in the sufferings of Christ but also in His victory, becoming “sons of light” who are called to carry this light to the world.
The Cross: Our Path to Exaltation
The liturgy of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross reminds us that our path to exaltation follows the same way of humility and obedience trodden by Christ. As the Fathers remind us, the Cross is both the judgment of the world and the light of salvation. Through it, Satan is defeated, sin is atoned for, and death is destroyed. But more than this, the Cross is the pattern for our lives as Christians.
As we meditate on the Cross, let us, like Christ, seek the path of humility. St. Leo the Great wisely teaches that “in the Cross of Christ is the instruction for all Christian life,” for in it, we learn to die to ourselves so that we may live for God. Just as Christ’s humiliation was the cause of His exaltation, so too will our embracing of the Cross lead us to eternal glory.
May we, in this sacred season, follow the light of the Cross, recognizing that the path of suffering, if borne in union with Christ, is the very means by which we will share in His exaltation. Let us, then, with St. Paul, confess that “Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil 2:11), and take up our own cross, trusting in the power of Christ crucified to transform our lives and lead us to the fullness of life in Him.