Good morning, good people! May the Lord give you peace, health, and happiness in the Holy Spirit. It is 08th April 2025. We reflect on Numbers 21:4-9 and John 8:21-30.
Pope Francis reminds us: “The Cross is the word through which God has responded to evil in the world. Sometimes it may seem as though God does not respond to evil, that He is silent. And yet, God has spoken, He has replied, and His answer is the Cross of Christ.”
There is no need to die in sin, as long as we have the eyes of faith fixed on Jesus. Who among us has not sinned in life? For countless reasons, we fall into sin and become spiritually sick. Often, impatience with God opens the door to sinful behaviors.
The lifting up of the bronze serpent by Moses in the desert prefigures the lifting up of Jesus on the Cross: “When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to myself.” (John 12:32)
After their victory over neighboring nations, the people of Israel forgot the Lord. Whenever we forget God, we too become ensnared in cycles of sin. Like them, we grumble, complain, and even speak ill of God—forgetting His blessings and, at times, longing for our old familiar “slavery” of sin.
Gratitude is the root of patience. A grateful heart remains faithful and trusting, even in suffering. Are we also impatient? Have we forgotten all that God has done for us? Yet when we get too familiar or bored with God’s generosity, impatience begins to grow.
The Israelites eventually asked Moses to intercede for their forgetfulness, ingratitude, and complaining hearts. Sadly, what once was a symbol of healing—the bronze serpent—later became an idol and had to be destroyed by King Hezekiah (cf. 2 Kings 18:4).
A man in solitary confinement, angry and broken, found a small New Testament in his cell. With nothing to lose, he started reading. One night, these words pierced his heart: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34). Tears came for the first time in years. The Cross became his healing.
After release, he began mentoring others, sharing Christ’s forgiveness. He later said, “It wasn’t the walls that set me free—it was the love of a God who never gave up on me.” Jesus reminds us: “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.” (John 3:14-15)
In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks of His unity with the Father. In the Gospel of John, the “lifting up” of Jesus refers not only to His crucifixion but also to His exaltation and glorification. For some, His words led to belief; for others, they seemed like riddles or nonsense.
Prejudice and pride often prevent us from truly listening. Let us not be like those who grew impatient with the Lord. Instead, let us cultivate grateful, listening hearts, remembering the Lord’s mercy and the healing power of the Cross.
May we gaze upon the Cross not with fear, but with faith, knowing that the One lifted up still draws us nearby. Let us turn from complaint to gratitude, from sin to healing, and from impatience to hope.
Have a lovely day. May God bless you abundantly.