Daily Readings - Sat Sep 14 2024

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 two pivotal moments in scripture that weave together themes of salvation and divine love. The first reading from Numbers recounts the Israelites' desert ordeal, where their discontent led to a trial by fiery serpents. Moses intercedes, and God provides a bronze serpent, a symbol of healing for those who gaze upon it in faith. This ancient story sets the stage for the Gospel, where Jesus draws a profound parallel between the bronze serpent and Himself. He reveals that just as the serpent was lifted up to bring salvation, He too must be lifted up on the cross, offering eternal life to all who believe. The connection between these readings is striking. The bronze serpent in the desert was not just a symbol of judgment but a testament to God's mercy. It required an act of faith from the Israelites to look upon it and be healed. Similarly, Jesus' crucifixion is an act of divine love, where faith in Him leads to eternal life. This interplay reminds us that our salvation is rooted in God's unwavering love, a love that transcends time and circumstance. In our daily lives, we often face challenges that test our faith, much like the Israelites in the wilderness. The readings invite us to reflect on how we respond to these trials. Do we turn to God in trust, or do we let doubt and fear guide us? The bronze serpent and the cross both call us to trust in God's plan, even when the path is uncertain. By gazing upon Christ, the ultimate symbol of salvation, we find the strength to navigate life's hardships with faith and hope. Let us remember that God's love is ever-present, offering us healing and eternal life through Jesus Christ.