Daily Readings - Thu Sep 14 2023
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 journey through two profound narratives that weave together themes of faith, redemption, and divine love. The first reading from Numbers recounts the Israelites' arduous journey through the wilderness, marked by their discontent and rebellion against God. Their complaints about the hardships and the manna lead to a divine judgment in the form of fiery serpents. Yet, in their repentance, Moses intercedes, and God provides a symbol of salvation—the bronze serpent. Those who gaze upon it are healed, illustrating the power of faith and God's merciful response to repentance.
The Gospel of John draws a poignant connection between this ancient story and the mission of Jesus Christ. Just as Moses lifted the bronze serpent for the salvation of the people, Jesus must be lifted up on the cross. This act of sacrifice embodies God's boundless love, as expressed in John 3:16, where He gives His only Son for the salvation of the world. The serpent in the wilderness becomes a prefiguration of Christ's redemptive work, emphasizing that faith in Him leads to eternal life. This connection underscores the continuity of God's plan of salvation, where looking upon Jesus with faith brings us healing and eternal life.
In our daily lives, we often find ourselves in our own wilderness, facing challenges and uncertainties. Like the Israelites, we may grumble against the journey, questioning God's plan. Yet, these readings remind us to trust in God's love and providence. Just as the bronze serpent required the people to look upon it with faith, we too must fix our gaze on Christ. In times of trial, let us turn to Jesus, the ultimate symbol of salvation, and find strength in His love. May we reflect on our own faith journeys, embracing trust and gratitude, and may our hearts remain open to the healing power of God's grace.