Daily Readings - Sun Sep 14 2025
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of trust, humility, and salvation. In the first reading from Numbers, we see the Israelites growing weary of their journey and complaining against God and Moses. Their lack of trust leads to a crisis, but God provides a solution through the bronze serpent, which becomes a symbol of healing and salvation for those who gaze upon it. This story reminds us that even in our darkest moments, God remains faithful and offers us a way to restoration.
The second reading from Philippians takes us deeper into the mystery of salvation through Jesus Christ. It describes how Jesus, though divine, emptied himself and took on the form of a servant, humbling himself even to death on the Cross. This act of humility is met with God’s exaltation, and Jesus is given a name above all names. This passage teaches us that true greatness comes not from power or status but from self-giving love and obedience.
In the Gospel, Jesus draws a connection between the bronze serpent and his own mission. Just as the serpent was lifted up to bring healing to the people, Jesus must be lifted up on the Cross to bring eternal life to all who believe. John 3:16 reminds us of the depth of God’s love for the world, a love so profound that he gave his only Son for our salvation. These readings together call us to trust in God’s providence, embrace humility, and place our faith in Jesus, who was lifted up for the salvation of the world. May we gaze upon the Cross with hearts full of gratitude and trust, knowing that in Jesus, we have eternal life.