A priest and a Rabbi from local parishes were standing by the side of the road holding up signs. The Rabbi’s sign read, “The End is Near!” Opposite him, the priest’s sign read, “Turn before it’s too late!” They planned to hold up their signs to each passing car. “Get a job.” The first driver yelled.  Right behind him a second driver passed; “Leave us alone, you religious freaks”!  Suddenly, from around the curve, they heard screeching tires and a splash followed by more screeching tires and another splash. The Rabbi looked at the priest and said, “Maybe a ‘Bridge Out Ahead’ sign would have been more effective.”

In today’s Gospel reading and especially in today’s feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, our church continues to hold up signs for its people.  Like those driving along their way in our joke, we would all be better off now and later if we heeded these signs.  But unlike the foolish Priest and Rabbi, our Lord not only warns us to turn around before its too late, he has also laid himself down as a bridge between his broken creation and our final home with Him in heaven.