What do you see when you gaze upon a crucifix? Are you disgusted? horrified? disturbed? Or so accustomed you see nothing at all?
Open up your minds, your hearts and you will see the tremendous and awesome love of the Lord our God for us. He paid for us a debt that He did not owe so that we might have life through and with Him. Once looked upon as an emblem of shame has become a sacramental sign of victory! Victory of life over death, good over evil, love over hate.
Today let us sing with one voice and great fervour…
Love lifted on the cross for me:my Lord, my God, my salvation.
Love lifted high to set me free: my Lord, my God, my salvation.
Amen
First reading
Numbers 21:4-9
On the way through the wilderness the people lost patience. They spoke against God and against Moses, ‘Why did you bring us out of Egypt to die in this wilderness? For there is neither bread nor water here; we are sick of this unsatisfying food.’
At this God sent fiery serpents among the people; their bite brought death to many in Israel. The people came and said to Moses, ‘We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you. Intercede for us with the Lord to save us from these serpents.’ Moses interceded for the people, and the Lord answered him, ‘Make a fiery serpent and put it on a standard. If anyone is bitten and looks at it, he shall live.’ So Moses fashioned a bronze serpent which he put on a standard, and if anyone was bitten by a serpent, he looked at the bronze serpent and lived.
Gospel
John 3:13-17
Jesus said to Nicodemus:
‘No one has gone up to heaven except the one who came down from heaven,
the Son of Man who is in heaven; and the Son of Man must be lifted up as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.
Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost but may have eternal life.
For God sent his Son into the world not to condemn the world, but so that through him the world might be saved.’
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