Daily Readings - Fri Sep 14 2018

First Reading - Numbers 21.4-9 or Philippians 2.6-11

⁴Then they set out from mount Hor, by the way that leads to the Red Sea, to circle around the land of Edom. And the people began to tire of their journey and hardships⁵And speaking against God and Moses, they said: "Why did you lead us away from Egypt, so as to die in the wilderness? Bread is lacking; there are no waters. Our soul is now nauseous over this very light food.⁶For this reason, the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, which wounded or killed many of them⁷And so they went to Moses, and they said: "We have sinned, because we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray, so that he may take away these serpents from us." And Moses prayed for the people⁸And the Lord said to him: "Make a bronze serpent, and place it as a sign. Whoever, having been struck, gazes upon it, shall live.⁹Therefore, Moses made a bronze serpent, and he placed it as a sign. When those who had been struck gazed upon it, they were healed

Philippians

Chapter 2

⁶who, though he was in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be seized⁷Instead, he emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men, and accepting the state of a man⁸He humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, even the death of the Cross⁹Because of this, God has also exalted him and has given him a name which is above every name¹⁰so that, at the name of Jesus, every knee would bend, of those in heaven, of those on earth, and of those in hell¹¹and so that every tongue would confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father

John

Chapter 3

¹³And no one has ascended to heaven, except the one who descended from heaven: the Son of man who is in heaven¹⁴And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so also must the Son of man be lifted up¹⁵so that whoever believes in him may not perish, but may have eternal life¹⁶For God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that all who believe in him may not perish, but may have eternal life¹⁷For God did not send his Son into the world, in order to judge the world, but in order that the world may be saved through him

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of salvation, trust, and the profound love of God. In the first reading from Numbers, we hear the story of the Israelites wandering in the wilderness, tired and discontent. They complain about their hardships and even speak against God and Moses, blaming them for their struggles. As a result, God sends fiery serpents to afflict the people. Recognizing their sin, the people repent and ask Moses to intercede for them. Moses prays, and God provides a remedy: a bronze serpent lifted up on a pole. Those who gaze upon it are healed. This story reminds us that even in our darkest moments, God’s mercy and love are always available to us if we turn to Him with humble hearts. In the Gospel, Jesus draws a connection between the bronze serpent and Himself. Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert to save the people, Jesus will be lifted up on the cross for the salvation of the world. The famous words of John 3:16 remind us of the depth of God’s love: He gave His only Son so that all who believe in Him might have eternal life. This passage emphasizes that God’s plan is not one of judgment but of salvation. Jesus’ death on the cross is an act of love, a gift that heals the wounds of sin and restores us to relationship with God. These readings call us to reflect on our own relationship with God. Like the Israelites, we often face challenges and uncertainties in life. It’s easy to lose faith or grow impatient, but the bronze serpent and the cross remind us that God’s love is always at work, even when we can’t see it. Let us gaze upon the cross with the same faith as those who looked upon the bronze serpent, trusting that Jesus’ sacrifice brings us healing and eternal life. May we approach each day with gratitude for God’s love and with the courage to trust in His plan, even when the journey is difficult.