Readings & Reflections: Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent & St. Stephen of Mar Saba, March 31,2020

“If you do not believe that I AM, you will die in your sins.” Like ailing Israel looking upon a mounted bronze serpent, we behold the “lifted up” Jesus in order to believe. “The Lord looked down from his holy height” of Calvary. That gaze saves “those doomed to die.” We can face our problems, our weaknesses, and even death with serenity, because God did not have to ignore or find a way to work around those things in his plan of redemption. His power and wisdom made the evil of a betrayal and crucifixion into our salvation. We believe firmly in the Son of Man, the I AM.

AMDG+

Opening Prayer

Dear Jesus, Feed us at the banquet of the Eucharist with all the gifts of your paschal sacrifice. Bless us with a perfect heart to receive your Word that we may bring forth fruit in patience. Make us eager to work with you in building a better world so that it may listen to your Church and its gospel of peace. We confess, Lord, that we have sinned. Wash us clean by your gift of salvation. Through the intercession of Mother Mary, we pray. Amen.

Reading 1
Nm 21:4-9

From Mount Hor the children of Israel set out on the Red Sea road,
to bypass the land of Edom.
But with their patience worn out by the journey,
the people complained against God and Moses,
“Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in this desert,
where there is no food or water?
We are disgusted with this wretched food!”

In punishment the LORD sent among the people saraph serpents,
which bit the people so that many of them died.
Then the people came to Moses and said,
“We have sinned in complaining against the LORD and you.
Pray the LORD to take the serpents away from us.”
So Moses prayed for the people, and the LORD said to Moses,
“Make a saraph and mount it on a pole,
and whoever looks at it after being bitten will live.”
Moses accordingly made a bronze serpent and mounted it on a pole,
and whenever anyone who had been bitten by a serpent
looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.

The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 102:2-3, 16-18, 19-21
R. (2) O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you.

O LORD, hear my prayer,
and let my cry come to you.
Hide not your face from me
in the day of my distress.
Incline your ear to me;
in the day when I call, answer me speedily.
R. O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you.

The nations shall revere your name, O LORD,
and all the kings of the earth your glory,
When the LORD has rebuilt Zion
and appeared in his glory;
When he has regarded the prayer of the destitute,
and not despised their prayer.
R. O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you.

Let this be written for the generation to come,
and let his future creatures praise the LORD:
“The LORD looked down from his holy height,
from heaven he beheld the earth,
To hear the groaning of the prisoners,
to release those doomed to die.”
R. O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you.

Gospel
Jn 8:21-30

Jesus said to the Pharisees:
“I am going away and you will look for me,
but you will die in your sin.
Where I am going you cannot come.”
So the Jews said,
“He is not going to kill himself, is he,
because he said, ‘Where I am going you cannot come’?”
He said to them, “You belong to what is below,
I belong to what is above.
You belong to this world,
but I do not belong to this world.
That is why I told you that you will die in your sins.
For if you do not believe that I AM,
you will die in your sins.”
So they said to him, “Who are you?”
Jesus said to them, “What I told you from the beginning.
I have much to say about you in condemnation.
But the one who sent me is true,
and what I heard from him I tell the world.”
They did not realize that he was speaking to them of the Father.
So Jesus said to them,
“When you lift up the Son of Man,
then you will realize that I AM,
and that I do nothing on my own,
but I say only what the Father taught me.
The one who sent me is with me.
He has not left me alone,
because I always do what is pleasing to him.”
Because he spoke this way, many came to believe in him.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Reflection 1 – Believe and be saved

It is the truth! Those who will refuse to accept Jesus in their hearts will never see the kingdom of heaven. Such will be our fate if we reject Jesus. He Himself said: “You will surely die in your sins unless you come to believe that I AM.”

In today’s gospel, we see how the Jews and the Pharisees could not accept Jesus neither could they comprehend what He was revealing to them. Their sinfulness blinded them of the true identity of Jesus. The thought of Jesus being the Son of God, the Messiah was beyond their human and hardened hearts. They remained to be in limbo as they continued to wait for the Lord’s coming.

It is so amazing that those who opposed Jesus were so dull and ignorant. They were so blinded of the truth despite His teachings and the miracles and healings that came upon people who believed. Such is what the sin of pride can do to any person. It can totally block one’s understanding, appreciation and belief of the truth.

Pride can overcome every man, even the most noble of all. When this happens, their best aspirations and motivations become so tainted. They are so focused on self that they profess and teach faith in Christ when one could hardly see any further trace of our Lord in their words and actions. This was what transpired in the lives of those who opposed Jesus. The enemies of Jesus could not rise up above the literal essence of time and space neither could they have any sense of spirituality in their hearts.

Jesus solemnly warns all of us through the example of the Pharisees that we too will die of our sins and suffer the pains of God’s wrath if we firmly refuse to believe in Him.  He confides that apart from Him there is no other alternative. Apart from Him, there is no way to obtain forgiveness of sins. And those who shall die with sins unforgiven will never be able to enter God’s heavenly home.

Upon direct and insistent questioning by the stubborn Jews on who He really is, one should note the response of Jesus: “What I told you from the beginning. I have much to say about you in condemnation. But the one who sent me is true, and what I heard from him I tell the world.”

Jesus was and is the Promised Messiah.  Although they have heard Jesus say the very same thought time and again and have repeatedly witnessed His works of love, mercy and compassion, yet their stubborn hearts refused to bow to the truth. Jesus was the living embodiment of all that is from the Father but they insisted that Jesus present to them further signs and proofs.

Today, can we be likened to the Jews and the Pharisees when God asks us to carry our Cross and follow Him? Do we ask so many questions and insist why it has to be us to lead a life of self-denial and sacrifice and not our neighbor?  When life becomes unbearable and we feel neglected by God, do we lose our faith and easily give in to the pleasurable alternative of the enemy? Do we have the pride that makes our intellect dull, our wisdom, worthless and our hearts, hardened, when God comes into our midst with something bitter and hard to accept? Do we only believe God when life is good and turn our backs on Him when life becomes difficult?  And when our cross becomes unbearable do we give up our crusade to enter God’s kingdom and opt for a life that seeks to promote the world and the evil one?

In our daily walk with the God, let us remember what Jesus said to the Jews and the Pharisees so that we may firmly follow Him without reserve. Jesus said: “You belong to what is below; I belong to what is above.  You belong to this world — a world which cannot hold me. That is why I said you would die in your sins.  You will surely die in your sins unless you come to believe that I AM.”

Do you believe Jesus and accept Him as God and Savior, the True Messiah, the Christ Himself?  Our response can only be an unconditional Yes!

To believe is to LIVE!
Direction

Faith in Jesus is a must for salvation. Believe and be saved.
Prayer

O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you. Hide not your face from me in the day of my distress. Incline your ear to me, in the day when I call, answer me speedily. Perfect my faith and draw me closer to You. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Reflection 2 – Sometimes you have to face it head on

There is a story about the three Pillars of Religion (Prayer, Bible and Charity) complaining to God that people on earth were ignoring them. “You have to do something,” they told God, “otherwise we shall be completely forgotten.” “Yes,” the Lord replied, “you’re right. I shall offer the people something even greater than you; I shall offer them Self-knowledge.” And God sent the precious gift of Self-knowledge, but he was sorely disappointed when the people ignored it.

This is what’s happening in the first reading (Num 21:4-9). Our ancestors complained against God and Moses. Only the serpents’ bite could bring about a change of heart. Moses confronted them with a dramatic symbol of the evil and insisted that they look upon the bronze serpent to signify their repentance. By lifting up the serpent on the pole, Moses was urging his people to stop and focus and acquire self-knowledge. And those who looked were cured. Likewise in the Gospel (Jn 8:21-30) Jesus confronted the complainers of his day for failing to recognize either the Father or the Son. It would take the image of the crucifixion to touch their hearts, and perhaps Jesus’ triumph over death to change their minds.

Next week is Holy Week. Our preparations for remembering and celebrating the mystery of salvation begin to intensify. Today’s Liturgy of the Word reflects a sense of urgency to challenge every one of us. Jesus accuses his opponents of being so much a part of this world that they cannot recognize the things of heaven. Three times he warned them that they would die in their sins for not accepting him as one who comes from God. In effect he is complaining, “If you won’t listen to God, how can you possibly escape condemnation? I have come from the Father, but you do not know him or me. Will it take my death and resurrection to touch your hearts and change your minds? Will you then at last believe?” How about us today? (cf. Norman Langenbrunner, Weekday Homily Helps. Ohio: St. Anthony Messenger Press, March 23, 2010).

Reflection 3 – Seeing is believing

In our first reading (Num 21:4-9), the Israelites complain about their hardships in the desert. Many claim that they preferred to be slaves in Egypt rather than eat the “wretched food” that feel from heaven to feed them. The seraph snakes were a punishment for this grumbling, but in providing the ailment, the Lord also gave Moses the cure: “Make a seraph and mount it on a pole, and if anyone who has been bitten looks at it, he will recover” (Num 21:9).

Jesus offers an echo of this in his warning: “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I AM” (Jn 8:28). Those of us who know the rest of the story can read this statement as a foreshadowing of the crucifixion when Jesus was, in fact, “lifted up” in a very real way. Here the relationship between the stories becomes even more crucial. Moses lifted up the seraph so that those who were bitten by it could be healed by looking at it. Jesus, the fulfillment of God’s revelation, was lifted up upon the cross so that those who were wounded by sin could be healed by the mercy of God, simply by believing.

In both instances, God designs the means of healing. In both instances, that design is somewhat counterintuitive. How can looking upon the serpent heal the effects of its bite? How can looking upon Jesus heal us of our sin? Both force the onlooker to consider deeply what is presented. The serpent bit those who complained of the means of their salvation – those who looked upon it would remember why they needed healing. The mercy of God, embodied in Jesus, heals those who could not be saved through the following the Law. In both cases, God saves, and then reaches deeper to save again.

As we approach the Eucharist, let us remember the healing that we need and offer our gratitude to the God who anxiously waits to bring it to us. (Source: Kathleen M. Carroll, Weekday Homily Helps. Ohio: St. Anthony Messenger Press, March 31, 2009).

Reflection 5 – When you have lifted up the Son of man

Do you know the healing power of the cross of Jesus Christ? When the people of Israel were afflicted with serpents in the wilderness because of their sin, God instructed Moses: “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and every one who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live” (Numbers 21:8). The visible sign of the “fiery bronze serpent” being lifted up in the sight of the people reminded them of two important facts – sin leads to death and repentance leads to God’s mercy and healing. The lifting up of the bronze serpent on a wooden pole points to Jesus Christ being lifted up on the wooden cross at Calvary where he took our sins upon himself to make atonement to the Father on our behalf. The cross of Christ broke the curse of sin and death and won pardon, healing, and everlasting life for all who believe in Jesus, the Son of God and Savior of the world.

Either for him or against him
While many believed in Jesus and his message, many others, including the religious leaders, opposed him. Some openly mocked him when he warned them about their sin of unbelief. It’s impossible to be indifferent to Jesus’ word and his judgments. We are either for him or against him. There is no middle ground and no neutral parties.

When Jesus spoke about “going away” he was referring to his return in glory to his Father in heaven. Jesus warned his opponents that if they continued to disobey God’s word and to reject him as Lord and Savior, they would shut themselves off from God and  die in their sins. Jesus’ words echoed the prophetic warning given to Ezekiel that people would die in their sins if they did not turn to God and ask for his mercy and pardon (see Ezekiel 3:18 and 18:18). In every age God warns his people to heed his word before the time is too late to seek his mercy and forgiveness. God gives us time to turn to him and to receive his mercy and pardon, but that time is right now.

To sin literally means to miss the mark or to be off target. The essence of sin is that it diverts us from God and from our true purpose in life – to know the source of all truth and beauty which is God himself and to be united with God in everlasting joy. When Adam and Eve yielded to their sin of disobedience, they literally tried to hide themselves from God’s presence (Genesis 3:8-10). That is what sin does – it separates us from the One who is not only “all-seeing” and “ever present” to us, but who is also “all loving” and “merciful” and eager to receive us with open arms of mercy, healing, and forgiveness. When God calls you to turn your gaze and attention towards him, do you try to hide yourself from his presence with other distractions and excuses that keep you from seeking him and listening to his voice?

The proof of God’s love for us
Jesus went on to explain to people that if they could not recognize his voice when they heard his word, they would have the opportunity to recognize him when he is “lifted up” on the cross. Jesus pointed to the atoning sacrifice of his life on the cross as the true source of healing and victory over sin and reconciliation with God. The sacrifice of Jesus’ life on the cross is the ultimate proof of God’s love for us.

God so loved the world that he gave us his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).

To fail to recognize who Jesus is and where he came from is to remain in darkness – the darkness of sin, ignorance, and unbelief. But if we look to Jesus and listen to his word of life and truth, then we will find the way to lasting peace and joy with God. The Lord Jesus invites each one of us to accept him as the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Our time here in this present world is very limited and short, but how we live it today has consequences not only for the present moment but for our eternal destiny as well. Which direction is your life headed in right now?

“Lord Jesus, you came to set us free from sin, doubt, fear, and ignorance. Your word brings life, truth, and healing to mind, heart, soul, and body. Let your healing love free me from the blindness of sin and disbelief and from the destructive force of evil and wrongdoing. May I always find peace, joy, and strength in knowing your merciful love, truth, and goodness.” – Read the source: http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/readings/2020/mar31.htm

Reflection 5 – I AM

He said to them again, “I am going away and you will look for me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going you cannot come.” So the Jews said, “He is not going to kill himself, is he, because he said, ‘Where I am going you cannot come’?”… So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “What I told you from the beginning. I have much to say about you in condemnation. But the one who sent me is true, and what I heard from him I tell the world.” They did not realize that he was speaking to them of the Father. So Jesus said [to them], “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I AM…”

This declaration of Jesus has reference to the first reading of today from the Book of Numbers. At one point in their long journey to the Promised Land, the Israelites grumbled against Moses and against God despite all the wonders shown to them in the desert. God was angry, and in punishment for their ingratitude and stubbornness, He sent deadly serpents. Many of them died. Terrified and repentant, the people implored Moses to ask God for healing. “And the Lord said to Moses: Make a seraph and mount it on a pole, and everyone who has been bitten will look at it and recover. Accordingly Moses made a bronze serpent and mounted it on a pole, and whenever the serpent bit someone, the person looked at the bronze serpent and recovered” (Numbers 21:8-9).

In his private conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus said to him: “And 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” (Jn 3:14-15). In today’s Gospel, the Lord repeated the same declaration, and this time in the presence of many people: “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I AM…”

The serpent released deadly venom that killed many Israelites. But God instructed Moses to mount a bronze serpent as the antidote to the deadly venom.

The medical field gives information on how antidotes are made. “The antidotes for some particular toxins are manufactured by injecting the toxin into an animal in small doses and extracting the resulting antibodies from the host animals’ blood. This results in an antivenom that can be used to counteract venom produced by certain species of snakes, spiders and other venomous animals” (Wikipedia).

In other words, the same toxin or venom extracted from the poisonous animal is the one being used as antidote. Similarly, God instructed Moses to lift up the image of the same serpent as antidote to the poison of the serpents that bit the people.

And Jesus used this image to describe His own mission. In His Incarnation, he because like us in all things, except sin. But in His earnest desire to save mankind, He went further. In order to become the effective antidote to sin, St. Paul said, “For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him” (2Cor 5:21).

While hanging on the cross, he was the image of a condemned criminal, the image of sin. But it was precisely because of this that He becomes the antidote to sin. The Prophet Isaiah pictures Him as the Suffering Servant: “But he was pierced for our sins, crushed for our iniquity. He bore the punishment that makes us whole, by his wounds we were healed” (Is 53:5).

When they “lifted up the Son of Man”, then they realized who Jesus really is. After his death on the cross, the centurion confessed: “Truly, this is the Son of God!”
In a few days, the whole Christian world will celebrate the most important days of the year, the Holy Week. This is not the time for out-of-town vacations and merrymaking. It is the time to reflect on how God so loved us sinners to the point of having His own Son ‘lifted up’ on the cross as ‘antidote’ to the poison of sin.

May we not forget this fateful year 2020. For a change, Holy Week will be celebrated by people all over the world the way it should be celebrated. Confined within our homes, we now have all the opportunity to pray and reflect on the most essential truth of the Gospel: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life” (Jn 3:16).

May the Holy Week this year be truly meaningful, fruitful and helpful for our growth in holiness. (Source: Fr. Mike Lagrimas, St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Amsterdam St., Capitol Park Homes, Matandang Balara, Quezon City 1119).

Reflection 6 – What are you complaining about?