Daily Readings - Tue Sep 14 2021
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 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.