Daily Readings - Thu Sep 14 2023
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 journey through two profound narratives that weave together themes of faith, redemption, and divine love. The first reading from Numbers recounts the Israelites' arduous journey through the wilderness, marked by their discontent and rebellion against God. Their complaints about the hardships and the manna lead to a divine judgment in the form of fiery serpents. Yet, in their repentance, Moses intercedes, and God provides a symbol of salvation—the bronze serpent. Those who gaze upon it are healed, illustrating the power of faith and God's merciful response to repentance.
The Gospel of John draws a poignant connection between this ancient story and the mission of Jesus Christ. Just as Moses lifted the bronze serpent for the salvation of the people, Jesus must be lifted up on the cross. This act of sacrifice embodies God's boundless love, as expressed in John 3:16, where He gives His only Son for the salvation of the world. The serpent in the wilderness becomes a prefiguration of Christ's redemptive work, emphasizing that faith in Him leads to eternal life. This connection underscores the continuity of God's plan of salvation, where looking upon Jesus with faith brings us healing and eternal life.
In our daily lives, we often find ourselves in our own wilderness, facing challenges and uncertainties. Like the Israelites, we may grumble against the journey, questioning God's plan. Yet, these readings remind us to trust in God's love and providence. Just as the bronze serpent required the people to look upon it with faith, we too must fix our gaze on Christ. In times of trial, let us turn to Jesus, the ultimate symbol of salvation, and find strength in His love. May we reflect on our own faith journeys, embracing trust and gratitude, and may our hearts remain open to the healing power of God's grace.