First reading Numbers 21:4-9
If anyone was bitten by a serpent, he looked up at the bronze serpent and lived
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.
Responsorial Psalm 101(102):2-3,16-21
O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you.
O lord, hear my prayer,
and let my cry come to you.
Do not hide your face from me
in the day of my distress.
Turn your ear toward me;
on the day when I call,
speedily answer me.
The nations shall fear the name of the Lord,
and all the earth’s kings your glory.
When the Lord shall build up Sion,
he will appear in all his glory.
Then he will turn to the prayers of the helpless;
he will not despise their prayers.
Let this be written for ages to come,
that a people yet unborn may praise the Lord;
The Lord looked down
from his holy place oh high,
looked down from heaven to the earth,
to hear the groans of the prisoners,
and free those condemned to die.
Gospel John 8:21-30
When you have lifted up the Son of Man then you will know that I am He
Jesus said to the Pharisees:
‘I am going away;
you will look for me
and you will die in your sin.
Where I am going, you cannot come.’
The Jews said to one another, ‘Will he kill himself? Is that what he means by saying, “Where I am going, you cannot come”?’ Jesus went on:
‘You are from below; I am from above.
You are of this world; I am not of this world.
I have told you already:
You will die in your sins.
Yes, if you do not believe that I am He,
you will die in your sins.’
So they said to him, ‘Who are you?’ Jesus answered:
‘What I have told you from the outset.
About you I have much to say
and much to condemn;
but the one who sent me is truthful,
and what I have learnt from him
I declare to the world.’
They failed to understand that he was talking to them about 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 of myself:
what the Father has taught me is what I preach;
he who sent me is with me,
and has not left me to myself,
for I always do what pleases him.’
As he was saying this, many came to believe in him.
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Never alone
Today, in the gospel passage, Jesus speaks about who He truly is. He tells the people, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He…” Many listening to Him are confused. They hear His words, but they do not fully trust Him. Jesus explains that He does nothing on His own but only what the Father teaches Him. He lives in constant trust and obedience to God. Because of this, He says, “The one who sent me is with me.”
Today, we are called not just to know Jesus with our minds, but to believe Him with our hearts. To believe in Jesus means trusting who He says He is, the One sent by the Father, the One who brings life and freedom. When we choose to trust in Jesus, we are not alone. Just as the Father was with Jesus, God is with us.
Reflective Question:
In what area of my life do I need to move from simply hearing Jesus’ words to truly trusting and living them?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD
