Preaching for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, Sara Ann Conneely invites us to look beyond suffering and punishment to see God’s love revealed in Christ, who transforms pain into hope and new life: "If we focus on the punishment, on the pain, on the poison, we might miss the miracle that is happening. When we read these two stories together, we become more aware of the sacrifice made by God to bring us into God’s vision for salvation."Sara Ann Conneely is a passionate minister, educator, and spiritual guide dedicated to facilitating and supporting community building. After ten years in education, Sara recently became the Associate Director of The Well Spirituality Center outside of Chicago, Illinois. Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/09142025 to learn more about Sara, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.