Daily Readings - Wed Sep 14 2022
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
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful images that connect the Old Testament and the New Testament, revealing God’s plan of salvation. The first reading from Numbers describes a moment of crisis for the Israelites as they journeyed through the wilderness. Tired and discontent, they rebelled against God and Moses, complaining about the hardships and the manna that had sustained them. As a consequence, God sent fiery serpents to afflict the people, but in His mercy, He provided a remedy: a bronze serpent lifted high on a pole. Those who gazed upon it in faith were healed. This story is not just a historical event; it is a foreshadowing of the ultimate act of salvation through Jesus Christ.
In the Gospel, John draws a direct connection between the bronze serpent and Jesus. Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, Jesus would be lifted up on the cross. The bronze serpent was a sign of salvation for the Israelites, and Jesus becomes the ultimate sign of salvation for all humanity. The Gospel emphasizes that God’s love for the world is so profound that He gave His only Son, not to condemn the world, but to save it. This act of love is the heart of the Christian faith. The cross, like the bronze serpent, is a symbol of healing and life for all who turn to it in faith.
These readings invite us to reflect on the nature of faith and trust in God. Like the Israelites, we often face challenges and uncertainties in our lives that can lead us to doubt or complain. Yet, in those moments, we are called to look to the cross, to gaze upon Jesus, who was lifted up for our salvation. The cross reminds us that God’s love is not abstract but concrete, demonstrated in the sacrifice of His Son. As we navigate our own journeys, may we learn to trust in God’s plan, even when the path is difficult. Let us turn to Jesus, the source of all healing and life, and may we always remember that God’s love is greater than any trial we may face.