Our reading for today shows a deep truth about people and how God deals with them. The Israelites are discouraged, tired, and angry. They started to complain about God and Moses, just like how we tend to grumble when things are hard. We forget how faithful God has been in the past. They saw the snakes as the result of their sin and a physical sign of their dissatisfaction.  But God didn’t leave them.  The metal snake on a pole was His way of saving people. This is both punishment and grace. Looking at the snake, which represents their pain, also becomes their way to get better.

Theologically, this is a picture of Christ’s death on the cross, where He takes our sins upon Himself and becomes the way for us to be saved. This verse tells us that our trials, even if they hurt, can bring us back to God. A lot of times, our complaints show that we don’t trust, but God’s kindness gives us a way to look to Him and be healed, even when we are in pain. 

Randy Borromeo (randyborromeo@gmail.com)

reflect

God’s grace always finds a way to save. God’s mercy always makes the first move.

Dear God, help me to look to You when I am in doubt, in pain, and struggling. And as I fix my gaze on You, may I be encouraged, healed, and set free. Amen.

Saint Aldemar, pray for us.

Life is difficult. We have our share of struggles to overcome. There will be times when we need to trust that things will get better and not get too invested in the problems of the present moment. The Israelites doubted God’s plan as they struggled through the desert. We will have desert experiences, too, so let us pray for the grace to trust God in the midst of these.

⁴ 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, 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 whoever looks at it after being bitten 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 102:2-3, 16-18, 19-21

R: O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you.

² O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you. ³ 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) ¹⁶ And the nations shall revere your name, O Lord, and all the kings of the earth your glory, ¹⁷ when the Lord has rebuilt Zion and appeared in his glory; ¹⁸ when he has regarded the prayer of the destitute, and not despised their prayer. (R) ¹⁹ Let this be written for the generation to come, and let his future creatures praise the Lord: ²⁰ “The Lord looked down from his holy height, from heaven he beheld the earth, ²¹ To hear the groaning of the prisoners, to release those doomed to die.” (R)

Gospel | John 8:21-30

There were many times in my life when I was not able to see the way through a difficulty. But God, or someone sent by Him, has shown me the way. Let us share our struggles in life—and our victories too—with one another. In giving witness to the work of God, we help increase the faith of those who are struggling with trials and disappointments.

Gospel Acclamation

The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower; all who come to him will live forever.

²¹ 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.” ²² So the Jews said, “He is not going to kill himself, is he, because he said, ‘Where I am going you cannot come’?” ²³ 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. ²⁴ 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.” ²⁵ So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “What I told you from the beginning. ²⁶ 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.” ²⁷ They did not realize that he was speaking to them of the Father. ²⁸ 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. ²⁹ The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do what is pleasing to him.” ³⁰ Because he spoke this way, many came to believe in him.

Reflect

What trials has Jesus helped you overcome? How do you share this victory with others?

Read the Bible in one year! Read GENESIS 40 - 42 today.

A young man lost his mother unexpectedly. While going through her belongings, he found a box of letters she had written to him but never sent. Each letter expressed her love, pride, and hopes for him. Overwhelmed with regret, he realized how often he had taken her love for granted, assuming she would always be there.

Don’t we often fail to recognize and appreciate love and sacrifices until it’s too late? We take people for granted, blind to their care and devotion, only to realize their true worth after they’re gone. Then, overwhelmed with regret, we scramble to express how much they meant to us—when it’s already too late.

This is similar to what happened with Jesus. He had to be lifted up on the cross for people to finally see who He truly was. It was through His suffering and death that His love and sacrifice became clear. Only then did many recognize that He was the Son of God, sent to redeem and save us. His crucifixion opened their eyes to the depth of His mission and identity.

But why wait for moments of loss to appreciate love? Jesus’ sacrifice teaches us the importance of recognizing and valuing the love and sacrifices of others while they are still with us. Let us not delay in showing gratitude, affection, and appreciation to the people who matter most. Say “thank you,” “I love you,” and express your gratitude today.

Life is fleeting, and love is meant to be shared in the present. By appreciating and cherishing the love around us now, we honor the sacrifice of Jesus and embrace the fullness of love He demonstrated through His life, death, and resurrection. 

Fr. Toto Cerada, SDB

reflection question

This Lent, how can you intentionally express love and gratitude to the people in your life while they are still with you?

Lord, teach me to cherish love in the present. Help me express gratitude and affection today, following the example of Your selfless and sacrificial love. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ____________________________