Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Tuesday of the fifth week of Lent, March 24th, 2026

Delivered by Maria Delie and Delon from the Parish of Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral in the Archdiocese of Makassar, Indonesia. THE CROSS OF GLORY Our meditation today is entitled: The Cross of Glory.The crossbar or commonly called the cross, before becoming the crucifix ofJesus was a sign of extraordinary humiliation. The human person condemned onthe cross was the most useless criminal. But when it began with Jesus Christbeing severely punished until His death on the cross, the meaning of the crosschanges. For followers of Christ, the cross is a sign of glory. In addition, intheir spiritual understanding, the cross is a sign of death for sin, evil andweakness. The cross as a pillar of glory for Jesus Christ hasthe meaning of salvation. In the days of Moses and the Israelites wandering inthe wilderness, the cross was unknown to them. The crossbar or wood of crossonly became popular when the Roman colonists made it a means to punish great criminals. Butas a pillar planted in the ground and has purpose of bringing salvation wasalready known to Moses and the chosen people. According to the book of Numberschapter 21, the bronze snake placed on a pole was the object of view for peoplewho were bitten by wild snakes, and they became healed. They did not die orperish because of the poisonous snakes, but recovered and saved. As Jesus carried the cross on His shoulders in Hispassion story and especially when He was nailed until he died on the same cross,salvation that is signified with cross is perfected to glory. The simple crossmade of wood had become the crucifix of the Lord Jesus. Salvation is a momentof liberation from the torments of pain, suffering and death. From salvation, aperson is raised to a high place where Jesus Christ is with the Father and theHoly Spirit. On that crucifix the body of Jesus dead and hung mercilessly on itbut His Spirit is alive and gloriously united with the Father, as He Himselfsays in the Gospel today: "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will realizethat I AM." We are heading for the agony of Jesus Christ beginningfrom the garden of Gethsemane to the Calvary. This reminds us of theexperiences of each of us or many people around us. Jesus suffered terriblywith the fact that He died on the cross, which reminds us of the severity andcruelty of sufferings that we also might have experienced. Our spirits and soulsdo not have to be bound by a body that is nailed on the cross of suffering. Ourbodies will eventually die and destroyed, but our spirits and souls will cometo a new life by achieving salvation and embracing glory. Following JesusChrist means we must go through the sufferings of our bodies, because we havebeen promised by Him the best result that will follow after our death.Let'spray. In the name of the Father ... O glorious Jesus, may we always be happyand joyful with the cross that each of us bears every moment of life. Hail Mary,full of grace... In the name of the Father ...