14 September 2023 Only By Grace Reflections

NOTE: Please click the Subscribe key on YouTube and press the black notification bell to receive the daily reflections. Or, open in YouTube for easy access. View and Like. Thank you. TOPIC: ARE WE WILLING TO TAKE UP OUR DAILY CROSSES IN LIFE?    First Reading: Numbers 21: 4b-9 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 78: 1bc-2, 34-35, 36-37, 38 Second Reading: Philippians 2: 6-11 Gospel: John 3: 13-17 Today’s feast that we commemorate in our Catholic liturgy is the Exaltation of the Cross. It is a joyous celebration of Christ’s triumph and the focus is not so much on the experience of the Cross with all its contradictions but on the victorious dimension of the Cross, which is revealed in the Resurrection. In today’s Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, Christ is inviting us to take up the cross which in the ancient Roman world was the worst form of execution and it meant suffering and death. But the transformation of the Cross as a sign of humiliation and defeat into a sign of power and glory is summarized in our reading in Philippians where St. Paul focused on the self-emptying of Christ as He humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on the Cross. But God greatly exalted Him. And because Jesus was greatly exalted that we exalt the Cross today as the holy instrument and powerful weapon Christ used to bring salvation to us all.     This is the 1238th installment of our CFC contemplation series focusing on the daily liturgical readings. [NOTE: As we continue to pray for Bro Bong Arjonillo’s healing and recovery, let us listen to our brother Rouquel Ponte, a member of the CFC Board of Elders, as he brings us today's reflection. All the regular reflections are between 3-7 minutes long, enough time for us to ponder what God's message is for us individually and to pray that we may live them out in our lives. This video is also available on Couples for Christ’s Facebook page. In You Tube, just type ONLY BY GRACE REFLECTIONS] #OnlyByGraceReflections #CFC #CouplesforChrist