Daily Readings - Sat Sep 14 2019
First Reading - Numbers 21.4-9 or Philippians 2.6-11
Numbers
4And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.5And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.6And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.7Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.8And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.9And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.
Philippians
6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
John
13And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the theme of salvation and the profound connection between the Old Testament and the New Testament. In the first reading from Numbers, we hear the story of the Israelites wandering in the wilderness, growing impatient and complaining against God and Moses. Their lack of faith leads to a punishment of fiery serpents, but God, in His mercy, provides a remedy: a bronze serpent lifted high on a pole. Those who gaze upon it are healed. This story is not just a historical account; it is a foreshadowing of the ultimate act of salvation through Jesus Christ.
In the Gospel, Jesus draws a direct parallel between the bronze serpent and Himself. Just as Moses lifted the serpent in the desert, Jesus must be lifted up on the cross. This act of being "lifted up" is both a physical reality—the crucifixion—and a spiritual truth. Jesus is the source of eternal life, and just as the Israelites looked upon the bronze serpent to be healed, we must look to Jesus in faith to receive the gift of salvation. The famous verse, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son," reminds us that God’s love is not merely sentimental but sacrificial. He gave His Son so that we might have eternal life, not condemnation.
These readings call us to reflect on our own faith journey. Like the Israelites, we often face challenges and uncertainties in life that can lead us to doubt or complain. Yet, in those moments, we are invited to look to the cross of Christ, the ultimate sign of God’s love and mercy. The cross is not just a symbol of suffering; it is a symbol of healing, forgiveness, and salvation. Let us ask ourselves: Do we trust in God’s plan, even when the journey is difficult? Do we turn to Christ in faith, knowing that He is our true healer and savior? May we, like the Israelites, gaze upon the cross and find the grace to persevere, trusting that God’s love will see us through even the darkest of times.