September 14, 2023
(Exaltation of the Holy Cross)
In their arrogance against Moses and the Lord, the Lord sent serpents to bite the people in punishment. And many of them died. 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, and the LORD said to Moses, “Make a saraph and mount it on a pole, and if any who have been bitten look at it, they will live.” Nm_21:4b-9
Jesus said to Nicodemus: “No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” Jn_3:13-17
As we’ll see tomorrow, Simeon will predict the contradictory nature of the Savior, whom he held in his arms, to Mary His mother. Today we see that contradiction in an instrument of death being employed as a sign of healing and life. The staff of Moses (Nehushtan), as a ‘type’ of the cross of Jesus, both lead the believer to salvation. While the Nehushtan of Moses leads the observer to salvation from mortal death, the cross of Jesus leads the believer to salvation from immortal death and into eternal life. How blessed we are, beloved, to be graced with the choice to accept or reject such a gift. The gift offered to us by the passion of our Lord and Savior. All praise and thanks be to Jesus, as we exalt the wood of His cross, that instrument of our salvation!
___________________end of post
Whispers to the Wind 