Sundays Readings & Reflection: September 14, 2014 (Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross) First Reading: Numbers 21:4b-9 With their patience worn out by the journey, the people complained against God and Moses, “Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in this desert, where there is no food or water? We are disgusted with this wretched food!” In punishment the LORD sent among the people saraph serpents, which bit the people so that many of them died. Then the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned in complaining against the LORD and you. Pray the LORD to take the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people, and the LORD said to Moses, “Make a saraph and mount it on a pole, and if any who have been bitten look at it, they will live.” Moses accordingly made a bronze serpent and mounted it on a pole, and whenever anyone who had been bitten by a serpent looked at the bronze serpent, he lived. Responsorial Psalm: (PS 78:1bc-2, 34-35, 36-37, 38) R. Do not forget the works of the Lord! 1) Hearken, my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable, I will utter mysteries from of old. 2) While he slew them they sought him and inquired after God again, Remembering that God was their rock and the Most High God, their redeemer. 3) But they flattered him with their mouths and lied to him with their tongues, Though their hearts were not steadfast toward him, nor were they faithful to his covenant. 4) But he, being merciful, forgave their sin and destroyed them not; Often he turned back his anger and let none of his wrath be roused. Second Reading: Philippians 2:6-11 Brothers and sisters: Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Gospel: John 3:13-17 (THE SON OF MAN) Jesus said to Nicodemus: “No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. REFLECTION: EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES WILL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE. To believe (Greek pisteuein) is a key concept in John and appears throughout his gospel. One can say that, for the evangelist, there are only two commandments of Jesus: to believe and to love. Faith is connected with and is the condition for salvation. Everyone who believes in Jesus has eternal life. John writes his gospel that you may (come to) believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name (John 20:31). Faith in Jesus is not primarily a matter of assent to his teaching, but trust and union with him. It is readiness to share his destiny and to accept his hard teachings. Human intention and efforts alone are not enough to believe. Faith is primarily a gift of God. No one can come to Jesus unless the Father draws him (cf John 6:44). In his conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus speaks of the bronze serpent lifted up by Moses in the desert (cf Numbers 21:4-9). The Israelites who were wandering in the desert wavered in their faith and rebelled against God and against Moses. In punishment, the Lord sent saraph serpents which bit the people so that many of them died. When the people repented, God ordered Moses to make a bronze serpent and mount it on a pole. Anyone who had been bitten and looked at the bronze serpent recovered. The mounted pole, for the evangelist, is the image of Jesus mounted on the cross of Calvary. Those who gaze at the crucified Jesus with faith will have eternal life. For the cross is the sign of Gods love for the world. The cross, formerly a symbol of shame, cruelty, and curse, becomes an instrument of victory and life. For John, the crucifixion of Jesus is already part of his glorification. When he is lifted up on the cross, he is being lifted up to the glory of the heavenly Father. His offering to the very end expresses his obedient love for God. And since he and the Father are one, his sacrifice is also Gods gift to humanity. How then can Jesus cross be other than a sign of love that triumphs over evil? - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops / 365 days w/ the Lord (Liturgical Biblical Diary 2014). Good morning!
Posted on: Sat, 13 Sep 2014 21:33:15 +0000
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