23rd Week in Ordinary Time (B) : Saturday 14th September 2024

If our daily life is left unexamined, we often create negative energies around us. During their journey through the desert, the Israelites grumbled, complained, and spoke ill of God because conditions were not to their liking. God sent fiery serpents to bite them, and many died. It is more likely that they attracted the serpents by their negativity. ‘Like begets like.’ They begged Moses to intercede for them with God, but God would not take the serpents away. He offered the cure: a bronze serpent on a pole; whoever was bitten would be cured by looking up at the bronze serpent. This was not magic. The ancient rabbis taught that this gesture symbolizes lifting our minds and hearts to God – a much better solution.

Addressing Nicodemus as representative of the elite crowd, Jesus used this symbol in referring to Himself and His mission. He would be lifted up just like the bronze serpent so that all who gaze upon Him – focus their minds and hearts on him – would be healed of the greatest venom of all: death and the fear of death. Jesus showed us the way: He emptied Himself and became the servant of all, obedient to God, even to the cross. To exalt the cross is to see that love outwardly directed is the inner meaning of the cross and the source of its power.

Lord, help me to lift my mind and heart to You, and lead me to do the things You desire.