May the Lord grant you grace and peace in the Holy Spirit.
It is on 28th March 2023.
The readings are from Numbers 21:4-9; and the Gospel from John 8:21-30.
There is no need to die in sin as long we have eyes of faith in Jesus. Who has not sinned in life? Due to so many reasons we all sin and become sick. Impatience with God exposes us to sinful situations. The lifting up of a bronze serpent by Moses symbolizes the lifting up of Jesus on the Cross. “When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to myself.” (Jn.12:32).
The people of Israel forgot the Lord when they got victory over the neighbors. Whenever we forget God, we are trapped in the circle of sin. Just like the people of Israel, we too grumble and talk ill of God at times forgetting all that God has done to us and more than ready to return to our habitual slavery of sins. Grateful people grow in the virtue of patience.
Are we becoming impatient during the pandemic forgetting all that God has done for us? Yes, there is so much uncertainty and fear all around us as health and well-being we enjoy by God’s grace. Getting used to and bored with the goodness and generosity of God is the beginning of an impatient attitude. The people of Israel requested Moses to pray for their forgetfulness, ingratitude, and complaining attitudes. Later, bronze serpent worship led the people away from God which was destroyed by king Hezekiah. “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, even so, must the Son of Man be lifted up, that those who believe in him may not perish, but may have life everlasting” (John 3:14ff).
The responsorial Psalm intercedes, “O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you.” (Ps.102:1).
In the Gospel, Jesus explains the relationship between the Father and Him. In Johannine Gospel, lifting up of the Son means to know and be healed and united with the Father. For John, the Cross is the moment of glory and the culmination of the mission on earth. Many came to believe in Jesus for all that He spoke but for a few, it was mere riddles and ridicule. When we are prejudiced, we do not want to listen.
Let us not become impatient with the Lord rather let us be grateful for all that we are enjoying in our life. May you have a lovely day. God bless you.