Thoughts on Today’s Scripture Readings
Num 21:4-9; Ps 77; Phil 2:6-11; Jn 3:13-17
The Book of Numbers carries Israel’s story forward from the giving of the covenant to Moses on Mount Sinai, to the end of their 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. God walked with them throughout, always caring for them, often in face of their grumblings. Today we hear how they were still grumbling even as they neared the Promised Land. The rebellious people are forgiven for the last time before leaving the wilderness. Moses raised up an image of a fiery serpent on a standard which cured the serpents’ bites. Incense was later offered to a bronze serpent standing in the Temple. Serpents appeared to regenerate themselves by shedding their skins, so they were seen as symbolising life.
Paul is generally believed to have written this letter to the Philippians from Ephesus around 57 AD. The Christians in Philippi were suffering both internal divisions and antagonism from their neighbours. Paul is united with them through his own suffering, and together they are united with Christ in his suffering. He exhorts them to selflessness, encouraging them by quoting this early Christian hymn.
These readings come together in John’s Gospel: Jesus tells Nicodemus that “the Son of Man must be lifted up as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert”. Through the Cross “everyone who believes” in Jesus as God’s Son “may have eternal life”.
Psalm Response:Never forget the deeds of the Lord
MY HEART TO YOUR HEART by Father Bernadino Andrade
HAPPINESS IS MY DECISION
A 92 year old, petit, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by 8 o’clock, with his air fashionably coifed and shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today. His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary.
After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready. As he manoeuvred his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window.
“I love it”, he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year old having just been presented with a new puppy.
– “Mr. Jones, you haven’t seen the room; just wait”, I replied. Happiness is something you decide ahead of time.
Whether I like my room or not doesn’t depend on how the furniture is arranged. It’s how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it. It’s a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do.
Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I’ll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I’ve stored away. Just for this time in my life.
Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you have put in.
So my advice to you would be to to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories. (Anonymous)
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