Daily Readings - Tue Sep 14 2021
First Reading - Numbers 21.4-9 or Philippians 2.6-11
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
Philippians
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
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 encounter two profound narratives that intertwine to reveal God's enduring plan of salvation. The first reading from Numbers recounts the Israelites' journey through the wilderness, marked by their discontent and rebellion against God. As a consequence, fiery serpents are sent upon them, leading to suffering and death. Moses intercedes, and God provides a remedy: a bronze serpent lifted high, which heals all who gaze upon it. This act of faith in God's provision is a poignant symbol of redemption.
In the Gospel of John, Jesus draws a parallel between the bronze serpent and himself. He explains that just as the serpent was lifted up to bring healing, he too must be lifted up on the cross. This act of sacrifice, driven by God's immense love, offers eternal life to all who believe. The connection between the two readings is clear: the bronze serpent is a prefiguration of Christ, emphasizing that salvation comes through faith in God's plan.
In our daily lives, we often face struggles and hardships that may lead us to question God's presence. Yet, these moments invite us to reflect on our faith. Just as the Israelites found healing by looking upon the bronze serpent, we too can find salvation by turning our gaze to Christ. The cross, like the serpent, is a symbol of God's love and our redemption. Let us embrace this gift with gratitude and trust, remembering that true healing and eternal life are found in Christ.