Remember Numbers 21:4-9
The Israelites left Mount Hor by the road to the Sea of Suph, to skirt the land of Edom.
On the way the people lost patience. They spoke against God and against Moses,
‘Why did you bring us out of Egypt to die in this wilderness?
For there is neither bread nor water here; we are sick of this unsatisfying food.’
At this God sent fiery serpents among the people; their bite brought death to many in Israel.
The people came and said to Moses,
‘We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you.
Intercede for us with the Lord to save us from these serpents.’
Moses interceded for the people, and the Lord answered him,
‘Make a fiery serpent and put it on a standard.
If anyone is bitten and looks at it, he shall live.’
So Moses fashioned a bronze serpent which he put on a standard,
and if anyone was bitten by a serpent, he looked at the bronze serpent and lived.
Reflect The destination is a gift too!
There are many journeys in life and we can’t make them all by our own efforts. Decisions are not always clear.
We need help from parents, teachers, doctors, counsellors, spouses, families, employers, friends,
faith, hope and love in order to plan, develop and pursue our life’s goals.
It is something the same with our journey to reach God and eternal life where Jesus is.
The mystery of heaven raises questions about the power and awesomeness of God, and
where we fit into it all.
The life and words of Jesus opens us to the accessibility, the friendship and the inner life and priorities of God, and the mystery of his ongoing presence and his enduring care for us right now.
This faith, hope and life here and hereafter is a grace, a gift of God the Father.
We have to pray and act as if everything depended on us, knowing well that everything depends on power and blessing of God.
Our destination is a gift from God and the journey can only be made with His help.
Story The old time parish mission before Covid 19
The villagers decided to boycott the mission. On the opening night, as the preacher came out on the altar he got a shock. There was just one man in the whole church. This man about the boycott!
The priest didn’t know what to do, so he approached the man,
asking him what he thought the missioner should do.
Ah, sure I wouldn’t know, Father. I’m just a simple man.
But I’ll tell you what, though, Father. I have fourteen hens, and when I call them in the morning,
if only one of them comes, I’ll feed her anyway .’
‘Oh, I see,’ said the missioner priest. ‘I get your point.’
The priest went to the pulpit to feed the one solitary hen that showed up!
He began with Adam and Eve, and he worked his way through to the Second Coming.
He spoke for 40 minutes!
‘Was that OK? the missioner asked
‘Ah, sure Father, I wouldn’t know that. I’m just a simple man, but I’ll tell you what.
I have fourteen hens, and when I call them in the morning, if only one of them comes,
I’ll feed her; but I certainly wouldn’t give her the full bucket!’
(Jack Mc Ardle, And that’s the Gospel Truth, www.columba.ie)
Prayer
Dear Lord,
you are compassion and love:
Moses gave us your commandments from Mt Sinai and
Jesus gave us the Beatitudes to live by
and promised us your constant presence and forgiveness when we go wrong.
May your compassion cover our hardness of heart towards others and our mistakes.
May we always look on others as family with love, hear them, forgive them, and treat them with compassion respect and hope.
Amen.
Hymn
We are One in The Spirit,
We are One in The Lord.
We are One in The Spirit,
We are One in The Lord.
And we pray that all unity may one day be restored.
Chorus
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love,
By our Love,
Yes they’ll know we are Christians by our love.
We will work with each other,
We will work side by side.
We will work with each other,
We will work side by side.
And we’ll guard each man’s dignity
And save each man’s pride.
Chorus
We will work with each other,
We will work side by side.
We will work with each other,
We will work side by side.
And we’ll guard each man’s dignity
And save each man’s pride.
Chorus
