mini Sunday Homily

Today's Gospel comes from the Gospel of John.  I would like to focus on the first part, Chapter 3 verses 14 and 15:
"Jesus said to Nicodemus: '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."

The reference Jesus is making is to Number 21:4-9.  The people complained against God and Moses in the desert, so God sent serpents as punishment to strike the people.  After the people repented, God instructed Moses to make a serpent and mount it on a pole so that whoever had been struck by the serpent and looked at the bronze serpent that was lifted up would recover.

Spiritually, we have all been struck by the serpent... the evil one.  We have all fallen into his traps by sinning and in some way or ways, big or small, have offended God.  But the sting of this serpent is far worse.  It is not bodily death, but spiritual death... especially in the case of mortal sin.

Thankfully God is a merciful God.  As we see in Numbers and in today's Gospel, God does not wish for us to perish eternally.  Rather, he wants us to have eternal life.

So the Son of Man lifted up is Jesus lifted up on the Cross.  Those who have been poisoned by the evil one can repent of one's sins, look up to the Cross with the eyes of faith and be saved.


Comments

  1. UnknownMarch 11, 2018 at 3:24 PM

    Your homily leads us to apply the events chronicled by John to our lives here and now. I gained new insight into the readings. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete

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