Daily Readings - Mon Sep 14 2020

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

In today's readings, we journey through a narrative of trial, redemption, and divine love. The first reading from Numbers recounts the Israelites' arduous journey through the wilderness, marked by their discontent and impatience. Their murmurs against God and Moses lead to a trial where fiery serpents are sent upon them. Recognizing their sin, the people repent, and Moses intercedes, leading to the creation of a bronze serpent—a symbol of healing for those who gaze upon it in faith. The Gospel of John reveals the profound connection between this ancient story and the mission of Jesus Christ. Just as Moses lifted the bronze serpent, Jesus must be lifted up, drawing all people to himself. The iconic verse, John 3:16, underscores God's boundless love, offering His Son as the source of eternal life for all who believe. This act of divine love is not one of judgment but of salvation, inviting humanity to embrace the gift of life through faith in Jesus. In our daily lives, these readings remind us to trust in God's providence, especially during times of hardship. Just as the Israelites found healing by looking upon the bronze serpent, we are called to gaze upon Christ, lifted on the cross, to find spiritual healing and eternal life. The moral lesson is clear: faith in God's plan, even amidst trials, leads us to redemption and salvation. Let us reflect on how we can deepen our trust in God, embracing His love and grace in our lives.