Daily Readings - Sat Sep 14 2024
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 pivotal moments in scripture that weave together themes of salvation and divine love. The first reading from Numbers recounts the Israelites' desert ordeal, where their discontent led to a trial by fiery serpents. Moses intercedes, and God provides a bronze serpent, a symbol of healing for those who gaze upon it in faith. This ancient story sets the stage for the Gospel, where Jesus draws a profound parallel between the bronze serpent and Himself. He reveals that just as the serpent was lifted up to bring salvation, He too must be lifted up on the cross, offering eternal life to all who believe.
The connection between these readings is striking. The bronze serpent in the desert was not just a symbol of judgment but a testament to God's mercy. It required an act of faith from the Israelites to look upon it and be healed. Similarly, Jesus' crucifixion is an act of divine love, where faith in Him leads to eternal life. This interplay reminds us that our salvation is rooted in God's unwavering love, a love that transcends time and circumstance.
In our daily lives, we often face challenges that test our faith, much like the Israelites in the wilderness. The readings invite us to reflect on how we respond to these trials. Do we turn to God in trust, or do we let doubt and fear guide us? The bronze serpent and the cross both call us to trust in God's plan, even when the path is uncertain. By gazing upon Christ, the ultimate symbol of salvation, we find the strength to navigate life's hardships with faith and hope. Let us remember that God's love is ever-present, offering us healing and eternal life through Jesus Christ.