ook 1:  Scriptural texts for Today's Mass

A reading from the Book of Numbers 21:4-9

From Mount Hor or they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom.; and the people became inpatient on the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food." Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. And the people came to Moses, and said, "We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us." So Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live." So Moses made a bronze serpent, and sent it on a pole; and if a serpent bit any man, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.

The word of the Lord.

R. / Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry come to thee!

Hear my prayer, O Lord;
Let my cry come to thee!
Do not hide thy face from me
In the day of my distress!
Incline thy ear to me;
Answer me speedily in the day when I call! R. /

The nations will fear the name of the Lord,
And all the kings of the earth thy glory.
For the Lord will build up Zion,
He will appear in his glory;
He will regard the prayer of the destitute,
And will not despise their supplication. R. /

Let this be recorded for a generation to come,
So that a people yet unborn may praise the Lord;
That he looked down from his holy height,
From heaven the Lord looked at the earth,
To hear the groans of the prisoners,
To set free those who were doomed to die. R. /

Again, Jesus said to them, "I go away, and you will seek me and die in your sin; where I am going, you cannot come." Then said the Jews, "Will he kill himself, since he says, 'Where I am going, you cannot come'?" He said to them, "You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins, for you will die in your sins, unless you believe that I am he." They said to him, "Who are you?" Jesus said to them, "Even what I have told you from the beginning. I have much to say about you, and much to judge; but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him." They did not understand that he spoke to them of the Father. So Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority but speak thus as the Father taught me. And he who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what is pleasing to him." As he spoke thus, many believed in him.

The Gospel of the Lord.

For sight impaired readers: End of Book 1.
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ook 2:

Gaining Strength from Today's Scriptural Texts

Tuesday, March 15, 2005

Book of Numbers:

The Israelites are moving about in the desert from Kadesh to Moab. They have intermittent battles with the Canaanites. The people weary of the monotonous diet and difficult desert nomadic life. They rebel and complain against God. The Lord chooses to discipline the people and sends poisonous serpents-called fiery because the venom caused inflammation. The serpent was a fertility god in Canaan. Moses obeys God and mounts a bronze image on a pole. The people are healed and fall into obedience to God. The area of this incident is near Punon, (Nm 33:42) site of ancient copper mineral reserves. The Israelites did not adopt the symbol as a cult image. Saint John describes the incident as a prefigurement of Christ's crucifixion. The sacrifice of Jesus heals all wounds and destroys the power death and the power of the serpent, the devil.

    Psalm 102 is a prayer of individual lament. It has elements that prophetically look to the liberating work of the Lord. The Lord will intervene on behalf of his people. We praise him for this restoration and life-giving hope.

Gospel of John:
Jesus Draws the Pharisees

    Jesus meets the Pharisees again and they have a tension-filled confrontation. If only Jesus could be accepted by these learned teachers, then many more could have faith in the authentic Son of God. They cannot bring themselves to take this social, religious and public "risk", despite all that they have heard. Jesus continues to hope. He declares that they are bound to the world. Jesus even identifies himself as "I AM", the divine self-identification. The Jews understand this title and reject it and ask who Jesus is. Jesus' very words have always identified him. Jesus openly states he has the authority to judge them. This is his authority as given by the Father. However, Jesus predicts that after he is raised up, then the religious leaders will recognize him. Despite the dismissal by the Pharisees, Jesus was received in faith by others who heard and believed.

For sight impaired readers: End of Book 2.
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ook 3:  What Words Mean

Tuesday, March 15, 2005

STAFF

ook 4:  What Else?

Tuesday, March 15, 2005

Lenten Prayer Exercise:

     "Who are you?" This is the question the Pharisees pose to Jesus after Jesus declares "I AM" before them. The Pharisees know the scriptures. They know this is exactly how the Lord identified himself to Moses on Mount Sinai. Who do you say that Jesus is? Your assignment is to pray over this question. Ask the Holy Spirit to draw you close to Jesus. Jesus loves to meet with and speak to his children-you. As you enjoy this encounter with this friend of friends, answer the question with your heart open to receive Jesus as teacher and guide. (Recommended time: At least twenty minutes, especially after receiving Jesus in the Eucharist)