The First Proclamation From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom, but the people became impatient on the way. The people spoke against God and against Moses. “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? ... Then the Lord sent poisonous serpents among the people .... The people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you, pray to the Lord to take away the serpents from us.” .....
Prayerful Awareness Today’s reading which records the tragic story of Israel’s unbelief, should serve as a dramatic lesson for ALL God’s people. God loves us and wants the very best for us. He can and should be trusted. We must obey Him. The Israelites refused to obey God’s law. They forgot the miracles God had done for them. They complained, their spirits were not faithful to God. God used venomous snakes to punish their unbelief and complaining. The Desert of Sinai had a variety of snakes. Some hid under sand and attacked without warning. Israelites greatly feared them. A bite caused slow death with intense suffering. Moses prayed for the people as they regretted and confessed their sin against God and Moses made the bronze snake as God commanded and hung it on a pole. The sick who looked at the snake were healed. It was NOT the snake that healed but their BELIEF that God could heal them. Comparing the text, we see the Israelites bitten by snakes. Christians today are bitten by sin. Little initial pain, then intense suffering. Physical death from snake poison, spiritual death from sin’s poison. Bronze snake lifted up in the desert, Christ lifted up on the Cross. Looking to snake, spared life, looking to Christ saves from eternal death. This is the Father’s supreme gift of His Son - an act of unparalleled love.
The Gospel Proclamation Please read John 8/21-30 meditatively.
Prayerful Awareness John disclosed Christ’s identity, that Jesus was and is the very heaven-sent Son of God and the only source of eternal life. People will die in their sins if they reject Christ, as they are rejecting the only way to be rescued from sin. The priceless gift of Christ offers us the most valuable ‘eternal life’ with God. Sadly people are blind, so taken up with the values of this world and thereby miss the most important ‘everlasting life’. Jesus plainly explained who He is and told them about His Father. The religious leaders were unable to understand because they refused to BELIEVE. Jesus proved He was God in the flesh by His sinless life. He worked many miracles and many believed in Him. Jesus is the Truth, the Way and the Life. Jesus is God, the Saviour of all men, specially of those who believe.
Prayer Starter O Holy Spirit, grant us the grace to cast down every idol throne and yield to Christ’s supreme reign alone.
