Daily Readings - Tue Sep 14 2021
First Reading - Numbers 21.4-9 or Philippians 2.6-11
Numbers
4They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way;5they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!"6Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died.7The people came to Moses and said, "We sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us." So Moses prayed for the people.8The LORD said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live."9So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived.
Philippians
6Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,7but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.8And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross!9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,10that 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 ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven--the Son of Man.14Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,15that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world 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.