Daily Readings - Mon Sep 14 2020
First Reading - Numbers 21.4-9 or Philippians 2.6-11
Numbers
4From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way.5And the people spoke against God and against Moses, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food."6Then the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died.7And the people came to Moses and said, "We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you. Pray to the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us." So Moses prayed for the people.8And the LORD said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live."9So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.
Philippians
6who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,7but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.8And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.9Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,10so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
John
13No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,15that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.16"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might 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.