by Father Patrick Longalong
Every Sept. 14, Catholics around the world celebrate the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. At first glance, it may seem strange to exalt a cross — a tool once associated with execution, shame, and death.
Yet for Christians, this day is not about glorifying pain. It is about remembering the love of God that transformed the cross into the greatest sign of life and hope.
The Scriptures for this feast move us from despair to redemption. In the Book of Numbers, the Israelites, weary and rebellious in the desert, found themselves bitten by serpents. God provided a remedy through the bronze serpent lifted by Moses. Looking upon it was more than survival — it was healing, restoration, and a renewed trust in God. Centuries later, Jesus told Nicodemus: “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.” The cross, then, is not merely about enduring suffering; it transforms suffering into salvation.
This message of transformation is not abstract — it is lived out in everyday life. Growing up in Queens during the 1990s, I saw how hardship could either break people or refine them. Many of us who attended public school were children of migrants. Our parents worked long hours, leaving us to navigate adolescence primarily on our own. Financial struggles were constant. Some friends turned to gangs, searching for the belonging and family they did not feel at home. Sadly, that path often led to heartbreak or tragedy. To this day, certain places in the neighborhood remind me of those friends we lost.
Yet, alongside these painful memories, there are also stories of resilience. Education became a lifeline for many. Balancing part-time jobs and schoolwork demanded sacrifice, but it offered purpose and a way forward. Others endured the grief of losing loved ones but found strength in community, counseling, and prayer. Slowly, we discovered that resilience was more than “bouncing back.” It was about transformation — allowing adversity to shape us into stronger, wiser, and more compassionate people. Each obstacle, whether financial stress, family struggle, or personal loss, became a stepping stone toward growth.
Family, friends, and mentors served as anchors, much like the faith that sustained Israel in the desert or the love that held Christ to the cross.
St. Paul captures this reality in his Letter to the Philippians. Though Christ was divine, He emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, obedient even to death on a cross. Yet because of this humility, God exalted Him above every name.
What appeared to be defeat became victory. This is Christian resilience — not survival alone, but transformation.
The cross shows us that real resilience is not simply waiting for things to get better. It is allowing God to transform suffering itself into a channel of new life. Like the bronze serpent, the cross is not only a sign of survival but of healing. It calls us not just to exist, but to truly live — finding meaning, enjoying life’s blessings, and building healthy, loving relationships.
The Gospel summarizes it best: “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life.” Each time we make the sign of the cross, we proclaim this hope. The cross is not the mark of defeat, but of love stronger than death — a love that transforms suffering into life.
Father Longalong is the pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes, Queens Village, and coordinator of the Ministry to Filipino Immigrants.