Daily Readings - Sat Sep 14 2024
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 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.