Greetings on this the Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Readings: Nm 21:4-9; PS 102:2-3, 16-18, 19-21; Jn 8:21-30
Notes: We are fast approaching The Hour.
In the gospel portion today Jesus is referring to the two basic points of reference.
- Below – that is to say – the here, myself and now.
- Above – that is to say – everywhere, everyone and always.
The Above includes the Below but the Below ignores the Above.
First reading
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!”
The manna was very miraculous food in the sense of timing, availability, quantity, nutrition, flavor, and as gift. It was divinely appointed.
They began to loathe it (always remember the people here are a sign of us all, not unique in their troubles).
Prefiguring the Christ to come, the Suffering Servant.
“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.
Moving our sight to the Above.
Responsorial Psalm
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.
Verse Before the Gospel
The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower;
all who come to him will live for ever.
Gospel Portion
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.
So Jesus said to them,
“When you lift up the Son of Man,
then you will realize that I AM.
Let us move our sight to the Above.
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry
Deacon Gerry Palermo 