Today as we gaze upon the crucifixes in our homes, around our necks, in our Parish, let us ponder over the word in John’s Gospel, 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. Indeed it is Not so much a symbol as it is a truth of God’s great love for us! Of how our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ suffered death to liberate us once for all from the clutches of sin. A victory over death and sin won for each and everyone of us by His very own death and Resurrection!
We are drawn to eternal life with Him, when we willingly take up our cross to follow Him. So on this feast day of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, let our hearts and minds be also raised, as we set our sights to the Heavenly Banquet that awaits us through Christ our Lord. Amen
First reading
Numbers 21:4-9 ·
If anyone was bitten by a serpent, he looked up at the bronze serpent and lived
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
God sent his Son so that through him the world might be saved
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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