Daily Readings - Tue Apr 05 2022
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 profound narratives that invite us to reflect on faith, trust, and divine providence. The first reading from Numbers recounts the Israelites' journey through the wilderness, where their discontent and lack of faith lead to a trial involving fiery serpents. Moses intercedes, and God provides a bronze serpent as a symbol of salvation, teaching the people to look to God for healing and forgiveness. This ancient story reminds us that even in our struggles and doubts, God offers us a way to be restored and renewed.
The Gospel from John presents Jesus speaking to the Jews about his divine origin and mission. Jesus emphasizes that he comes from above, and his words and actions are rooted in the will of the Father. The passage highlights the misunderstanding of the Jews, who fail to grasp the deeper truth of Jesus' identity. Yet, Jesus remains steadfast, affirming that his purpose is to reveal the Father and to bring light to the world. This exchange invites us to reflect on our own understanding of Jesus and our willingness to trust in his words and promises.
These readings connect in their emphasis on trust and faith. Just as the Israelites needed to look upon the bronze serpent to be healed, we are called to look to Jesus, who is the ultimate expression of God's love and redemption. In our daily lives, we face challenges and uncertainties, but the readings remind us to trust in God's plan and to seek spiritual healing through faith in Jesus. Let us ask ourselves: Do we turn to God in times of difficulty, or do we allow doubt and fear to guide us? May we learn to trust in God's providence and to find healing and strength in Jesus, who is our salvation and our hope.