Daily Readings - Tue Apr 09 2019
Numbers
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
John
21Therefore, Jesus again spoke to them: "I am going, and you shall seek me. And you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you are not able to go.22And so the Jews said, "Is he going to kill himself, for he said: ‘Where I am going, you are not able to go?’ 23And he said to them: "You are from below. I am from above. You are of this world. I am not of this world24Therefore, I said to you, that you will die in your sins. For if you will not believe that I am, you will die in your sin.25And so they said to him, "Who are you?" Jesus said to them: "The Beginning, who is also speaking to you26I have much to say about you and to judge. But he who sent me is true. And what I have heard from him, this I speak within the world.27And they did not realize that he was calling God his Father28And so Jesus said to them: "When you will have lifted up the Son of man, then you shall realize that I am, and that I do nothing of myself, but just as the Father has taught me, so do I speak29And he who sent me is with me, and he has not abandoned me alone. For I always do what is pleasing to him.30As he was speaking these things, many believed in him
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on faith, rebellion, and redemption. The first reading from Numbers recounts the Israelites' journey through the wilderness, where their impatience and rebellion against God lead to a trial involving fiery serpents. Moses intercedes, and God provides a bronze serpent as a symbol of healing for those who look upon it. This ancient story reminds us that even in our darkest moments, God’s mercy is ever-present, offering a path to salvation.
The Gospel from John shifts our focus to Jesus, who speaks of His divine origin and the necessity of faith. Jesus explains that He is from above, not of this world, and that without belief, one remains in sin. The Jews struggle to grasp His identity, but Jesus’ words point to a profound truth: He is the revelation of God, the source of life and truth. This passage challenges us to examine our own faith and whether we truly recognize Jesus as the Son of God.
Both readings converge on the theme of redemption through faith. The bronze serpent in Numbers prefigures the cross of Christ, where Jesus is lifted up for the salvation of humanity. Just as the Israelites looked upon the serpent to be healed, we are called to look upon Christ, crucified and risen, to find eternal life. In our daily lives, we face our own wilderness experiences—times of doubt and rebellion. Yet, these readings remind us that God’s love is unfailing. When we turn to Him in faith, even in our sin, we find healing and redemption. Let us, therefore, embrace the gift of faith, trusting in God’s mercy and allowing His love to transform our hearts.