The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today urge us to accept the direction of the Spirit to focus on the Presence of God to raise us up in times of distress.
The reading from the Book of Numbers describes the raising of the Bronze Serpent.
* [21:6] Seraph: the Hebrew name for a certain species of venomous snake; etymologically the word might signify “the fiery one.” Compare the winged throne guardians in Is 6:2, 6; see also Is 14:29; 30:6.
* [21:8] Everyone who has been bitten will look at it and recover: in the Gospel of John this scene is regarded as a type for the crucifixion of Jesus (Jn 3:14–15). (Numbers, CHAPTER 21, n.d.)
Psalm 102 is a prayer to the Eternal King for Help.
* [Psalm 102] A lament, one of the Penitential Psalms. The psalmist, experiencing psychological and bodily disintegration (Ps 102:4–12), cries out to God (Ps 102:1–3). In the Temple precincts where God has promised to be present, the psalmist recalls God’s venerable promises to save the poor (Ps 102:13–23). The final part (Ps 102:24–28) restates the original complaint and prayer, and emphasizes God’s eternity. (Psalms, PSALM 102, n.d.)
In the Gospel of John, Jesus, the Father’s Ambassador, foretells His Death.
* [8:21–30] He whose ambassador I am is with me. Jesus’ origin is from God; he can reveal God.
* [8:21] You will die in your sin: i.e., of disbelief; cf. Jn 8:24. Where I am going you cannot come: except through faith in Jesus’ passion-resurrection.
* [8:22] The Jews suspect that he is referring to his death. Johannine irony is apparent here; Jesus’ death will not be self-inflicted but destined by God.
* [8:24, 28] I AM: an expression that late Jewish tradition understood as Yahweh’s own self-designation (Is 43:10); see note on Jn 4:26. Jesus is here placed on a par with Yahweh. (John, CHAPTER 8, n.d.)
Cindy Murphy McMahon comments that we may belong to many groups, such as our families, our friends, special-interest groups and faith communities.
Do we primarily belong to the need to fulfill our own desires, or do we demonstrate our belonging to what is above with care for others, as Jesus tell us in John 13:35: “This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Do we belong to caring for God’s gift of the Earth and helping it survive and thrive, or do we belong to the mindset of continuing wastefulness and ignorance in the face of new realities?
Some days we may do a better job than other days, but it's worth thinking about and reflecting upon. Belonging is important, and it might be helpful to ruminate on the question, “To whom or what do I belong?” regularly in our minds and hearts. (Murphy, 2023)
Don Schwager quotes “Aided by Christ's grace,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"God the Father said: 'I sent you One who would seek you out, walk with you, and forgive you. So he had feet to walk with and hands to forgive with. Thus, when he ascended after his resurrection, he showed hands, side, and feet: hands with which he gave pardon to sinners; and side from which flowed the ransom of the redeemed.'" (excerpt from Sermon 16A,10) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on John 8:21-30 comments that there may indeed be “much” that Jesus could say to us “in condemnation” (John 8:26).
Are there sins in your past (or present) that are making you feel unworthy of God’s love? Are you so enmeshed in some situation right now that you think you’re beyond his mercy? Don’t believe those lies! Turn to Jesus. Let the experience of his love break any chains that might be binding you and soften whatever hardness is in your heart.
Jesus has not come to condemn you. So settle your heart, come into the Lord’s presence, and listen for his voice. Let him save you.
“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” (Meditation on John 8:21-30, n.d.)
Giuseppe Moscati was an Italian doctor, scientific researcher, and university professor noted both for his pioneering work in biochemistry and for his piety. Moscati was canonized by the Catholic Church in 1987. hHis feast day is 16 November. He was born July 25, 1880 in Benevento, Italy and diedApril 12, 1927 in Naples, Italy. He is buried at the Gesù Nuovo. Near the Church many totems of the healing in which he participated are displayed.
Friar Jude Winkler has not provided a valid SoundCloud URL for March 28 at the time of publication.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Dominican sister and counselor Catherine Chapman who describes why so many of us struggle to accept our powerlessness. She shares what happens on the other side of our admission of defeat.
Admitting our powerlessness frees us to allow the One who is Power to become active in our lives. We become more open to new ways of doing things as we allow God to love us and teach us how to give and receive love. We also begin to accept people and situations as they are. As we realize we aren’t in control, but God is in control, we are more able to detach from people and situations that are unhealthy for us, and accept these the way they are. This doesn’t mean we quit caring. We care, but we don’t allow the situation to determine our thoughts, actions and feelings. We will discover, as our detachment and acceptance deepens, that we have more emotional energy to spend on ourselves and the activities we would like to do. (Rohr, 2023)
We are gifted to have the Spirit as our guide when we meet adversity on our journey and we accept the Love of Christ in difficult situations.
References
John, CHAPTER 8. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved March 28, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/8?
Meditation on John 8:21-30. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved March 28, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/03/28/640143/
Murphy, C. (2023, March 28). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved March 28, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/032823.html
Numbers, CHAPTER 21. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved March 28, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/numbers/21?4
Psalms, PSALM 102. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved March 28, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/102?2
Rohr, R. (2023, March 28). Letting Go of Control — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved March 28, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/letting-go-of-control-2023-03-28/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). When You Have Lifted up the Son of Man. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved March 28, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=mar28
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