Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross

The Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross today. Legend has it that St. Helena, mother of Constantine the Great, recovered the True Cross in 326 AD. Actually, three crosses were recovered. To identify the true one, a miracle was needed. St. Helena caused a man already dead and buried to be carried to the scene. Upon touching the True Cross, the dead man came back to life! The veneration of relics and images received a big shot in the arm. It spreads like wild fire because deep down in the human psyche, there is a yearning for tangible things. No wonder, many Protestants accuse Catholics of idolatry, of worshipping relics, and of being superstitious.
In Protestant churches, you will not find Jesus on the crucifix. They only have a blank cross hanging on the wall. Protestants follow the Bible literally and therefore, they do not make graven images (Exodus 20:4).  This is their taboo, their burden. In Catholic churches, you will find Jesus on the crucifix. There are a great variety of images, depending on the spirituality of the time. The traditional ones have a half-naked Jesus crucified on the cross to suffer for the sins of the world. These images encourage Catholics to repent, to turn away from their sinful life which is the source of Jesus' sufferings. Other modern ones have a risen (fully or half clad) Jesus, arms widely open to embrace the world. These images encourage Catholics to meditate on their own resurrection at the end of the world. These images serve useful purposes for the spiritual development of the congregation. Therefore, I support the veneration of images.
Today, Sr. Lucia So, SSC (Missionary Sister of St. Columban) shared with us her vocation experience during homily time. This is the Silver Jubilee of her perpetual vow. At the moment, the Columban Sisters have given up educational mission in Hong Kong and concentrate more of their efforts in the missionary work in Mainland China.
Sr. Lucia believes that God is equally kind to everybody. Nuns and priests do not receive any special treatment. Each of us is uniquely loved by God in unique ways. She was born and raised in a Catholic village in Pokfulam, Hong Kong. God had prepared her well by sending priests whom she worked with, laity activities that she took part. Father Rene Chevalier, M.E.P. 明之剛神父 left her very fond memories. She was able to experience Jesus' humble service in the person of Fr. Chevalier. Sr. Lucia So dreamed that one day she would be a missionary like Father Chevalier.
Sr. Lucia has a strong sense of community. She held up a basket of flowers a parishioner gave her this morning. She thanked the kindness of all the Tuen Mun parishioners. In the several years she served in Tuen Mun, she felt deeply the brotherly (sisterly?) love we had towards each other and towards her. In her words, the teaching of Jesus was materialized among us in the parish. There are flowers of different kinds and colours. They are fully grown to sing of the glories of the Creator. Together, they make up a beautiful bouquet and emit a rich bouquet. This basket of flowers is an appropriate symbol of our parish life. Thanks Sr. Lucia.

My dear Advocate, I thank you for sending us dedicated missionaries. Pray that Your Holy Name be praised throughout the world. May the veneration of the Holy Cross bring us a true repentance of our sins and a true salvation. Amen.