What makes Jesus different from other religious leaders? All of them speak only of what they believe. Only Jesus speaks of what He knows—firsthand! Only He came from heaven and back, and He is the Son, the King of this kingdom. Tell me, who knows better?

I’ve always wanted to follow Jesus but used to be afraid to take Him seriously. He assured me, “Whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” Talk to any farmer who knows his farm, and he’ll say, “If a bird is wise enough, it would know that a scarecrow is an advertisement. Beyond its scary appearance, a scarecrow actually announces a fruitful field. The best gardens always have scarecrows. So a scarecrow is an invitation. Every giant that makes me feel like a grasshopper is only a scarecrow beckoning me to God’s richest blessings. Faith is a bird which loves to perch on scarecrows.”

I chose Him who’s worthy of my trust. Then I learned that problems are ads! Fears in this relationship are invitations that lead to an abundant life. Jon Escoto (faithatworkjon@gmail.com)

reflect

Are there fears that haunt you about making a decision for Jesus? How should you address this “invitation”?

Jesus, I may not know what You know, but I put my faith in You.

Saint Notburga, pray for us.

First Reading | Numbers 21:4-9

It is hard to believe that the Israelites can turn against Moses and God soon after they were freed from the Egyptians. It must have been difficult journeying through the desert toward the Promised Land, but surely, it is better than the abject misery of slavery in Egypt.

⁴ With their patience worn out by the journey, ⁵ 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!” ⁶ In punishment the Lord sent among the people saraph serpents, which bit the people so that many of them died. ⁷ 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 from us.” So Moses prayed for the people, ⁸ and the Lord said to Moses, “Make a saraph and mount it on a pole, and if anyone who has been bitten looks at it, they will live.” ⁹ 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.

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 78:1-2, 34-35, 36-37, 38

R: Do not forget the works of the Lord!

¹ Hearken, my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth. ² I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter mysteries from of old. (R) ³⁴ While he slew them they sought him and inquired after God again, ³⁵ remembering that God was their rock and the Most High God, their redeemer. (R) ³⁶ But they flattered him with their mouths and lied to him with their tongues, ³⁷ though their hearts were not steadfast toward him, nor were they faithful to his covenant. (R) ³⁸ But he, being merciful, forgave their sin and destroyed them not; often he turned back his anger and let none of his wrath be roused. (R)

Second Reading | Philippians 2:6-11

Jesus is not interested in entitlement and privilege. His only concern is obeying the Father’s will. Let us never get caught up in the revolving door syndrome of believing that we are entitled to anything other than a life of discipleship according to God’s plan for us. Corruption among clerical or lay leaders in the Church is an abomination to God and should never be tolerated.

⁶ Brothers and sisters: Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. ⁷ Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, ⁸ he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. ⁹ Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Gospel | John 3:13-17

We are meant to lift high the cross of Jesus and show the world the way of our salvation. May our way of life be a sign and hope of the future salvation for all. Let us retain this spirit of service and love so we will see what it means for God to love, forgive, and offer us the gift of eternal life.

Gospel Acclamation

We adore you, o Christ, and we bless you, because by your Cross you have redeemed the world.

¹³ Jesus said to Nicodemus: “No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. ¹⁴ And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” ¹⁶ 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. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

Read the Bible in one year! Read JEREMIAH 27 - 30 today.

The Cross Will Carry You

Christian history says two things about the origin of this feast. It recalls two events, from two different times. The first is Constantine’s founding in 325 of two basilicas—one at the site of Golgotha and one over Christ’s sepulcher. The other is the year 628, when Christians triumphed over the Persians, which led to the recovery of relics of the cross and their triumphal return to Jerusalem. With the passage of time, the feast gradually took on a new meaning. The focus of the celebration is the victory of Christ who changed the cross from an instrument of shame and judgment to an instrument of salvation.

One way of valuing the crucifixion of Christ on the cross is to look at it in its crude reality—the suffering, the pain, and the sin and malice that produced it. Human sinfulness put to death the Author of life on the cross. The cross was the ultimate instrument of torture and shame. In early Christianity, artists and poets would not even talk or depict the cross because of its awful implications.

But another way is to value the cross of Christ from the vantage view of its effects—sacrifice, atonement, salvation, justification, resurrection, glory. That is why we call this feast the Triumph or Exaltation of the Cross. Both ways, I believe, should help us live our lives of Christian discipleship.

I know of a wife who lost her beloved husband more than five years already. She has not stopped her grieving. everything that reminds her of him would cause her to burst into tears. There are days when she would still set aside a chair and a plate for him. There are days when she would lock herself in her room for a whole day, ignoring everyone. A child of hers poignantly captured her lamentable state with these words: “Mom, Dad is gone already. But we are still here. We already lost Daddy. We don’t want to lose you too.”

The woman needs to rediscover the exalted way of looking at the cross of Christ—death has been defeated, death does not have the last say. With Christ, there is resurrection. Fr. Joel O. Jason

reflection question

At the cross, Christ said, “It is finished.” He did not say, “I am finished.” With what attitude do you face life’s tribulations—with despair, defeat, resignation?

Jesus, I offer to You all my trials and pain. I unite them with Your suffering on the cross. Deign to unite me also in the glory that Your cross brought forth. Amen.

Today, I pray for: _______________________________________________