FORGIVENESS FORGIVENESS FORGIVENESS (HOMILY FOR TUESDAY OF THE 5TH WEEK OF LENT

Homily for Tuesday of the 5th week of Lent

Numbers 21:4-9. Psalm 102:2-3,16-18,19-21. John 8:21-30.

The first reading tells us about the ungrateful attitude of the Israelites to God, which led God to punish them by sending fiery serpents, which bit the people leading to the death of many in Israel.

On realizing their sins, they begged for forgiveness. In response, God asked Moses to make a bronze serpent and set it up as a sign, and if a serpent bit any man, he would look at the bronze serpent and live (Num.21:9).

This imagery of the bronze serpent is what Jesus made reference to in today's Gospel, saying, "When you have lifted up the Son of man, then you will know that I am He" (John 8:28). Just as those who look at the bronze serpent in the first reading received healing and lived, likewise, those who look up to Christ Jesus crucified on the cross with faith will live forever with him in heaven.

The emphasis here is not so much on the image as it is on the faith that brings us to look at the bronze serpent or Jesus on the cross. Faith in Jesus as Lord and God becomes the new parameter for determining who the true children of God are. Jesus said to the Pharisee, "For you will die in your sins unless you believe that I am he" (John 8:24).

The Lenten season is an opportunity for us to grow in faith and in our love for God and fellow creatures.

May God strengthen our faith to feel his presence in all that pertains to us through Christ our Lord. Amen.