The Cross of Christ - a symbol of shame and disgrace, a symbol of promise and hope. As St Paul reminds us in the first Letter to the Corinthians, "the message of the cross is foolishness ¡K (yet) it is the power of God ¡K The weakness of God is stronger than human strength." This is the real meaning of the Triumph of the Cross we celebrate today: wisdom in foolishness, strength in weakness, life in death. The deepest and truest message of our Christian faith is that God died on a Cross for us. And because He died "God has highly exalted Him."

How often has each of us meditated on the cross, finding courage in our sufferings, strength in our weaknesses, forgiveness in our sins, hope in desperation? Without the image of the Cross our daily living would be meaningless and there would be room for despair.

But we, like Jesus, may have cried out to God, "Why have you abandoned me?" and the same answer may have been given to us that was given to Jesus - silence. But because of the Cross we believe God hears us even when He does not answer.