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September 14 2006

Nm 21:4b-9 With their patience worn out by the journey, the people complained against God and Moses,“Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in this desert, where there is no food or water? We are disgusted with this wretched food!” In punishment the LORD sent among the people saraph serpents, which bit the people so that many of them died. Then 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.” Moses accordingly made a bronze serpent and mounted it on a pole, and whenever anyone who had been bitten by a serpent looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.

Ps 78:1bc-2, 34-35, 36-37, 38 R. (see 7b) Do not forget the works of the Lord!
Hearken, my people, to my teaching;incline your ears to the words of my mouth.I will open my mouth in a parable,I will utter mysteries from of old.
R. Do not forget the works of the Lord!
While he slew them they sought himand inquired after God again,Remembering that God was their rockand the Most High God, their redeemer.
R. Do not forget the works of the Lord!
But they flattered him with their mouthsand lied to him with their tongues,Though their hearts were not steadfast toward him,nor were they faithful to his covenant.
R. Do not forget the works of the Lord!
But he, being merciful, forgave their sinand destroyed them not; Often he turned back his angerand let none of his wrath be roused.
R. Do not forget the works of the Lord!

Phil 2:6-11 Brothers and sisters: Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself,becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Jn 3:13-17 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.” For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

Jesus was lifted up to heaven and is our teacher and example of eternal life who gave his life so that I may be saved and believe. Salvation and resurrection are the forces throughout the Bible. Our people were a people of slaves who were saved. They were a people that fell down in the desert, they grumbled, they worshiped the molten calf, they had many times that they turned from God but God remembered the covenant: "I will be your God and you shall be my people." Over and over again the people of God are saved. In the first reading they are saved from the serpants and in the Gospel they are saved from being condemned to this world and through the resurrection of Christ gain eternal life.

The second reading reminds me of the obedience of Christ. "Obedere" is to hear. The Lord heard and followed what God wanted even when it was a suffering and putting aside of self. Christ in a human form is the Christ who died on the cross. He chose to be vulnerable. He chose to put the good of humanity before his own good. There is no greater love than to lay down your life for a friend. St. Benedict calls followers to "hear with the ear of your heart." I pray today that I am able to hear others with an open and willing heart and be the love of God to all in that I do.

I am returning to reflect on the three questions my friend asked me to use as a daily reflection: who am i? why am i here? what is God's will for me? I can see that I am one of the foolish Israelites who were grumbling to Moses. There are times that the temptation to grumble is great. There was an NPR brief article yesterday by a British Business Author who insisted that there is good whining or moaning on the job that should be encouraged as long as it is limited to about 5% of the day and the complaining is to an equal and not someone higher up. I am not sure that I agree with that. I think that sometimes complaining is the beginning of a negative cycle that does little to improve a situation. Direct conversation and problem solving do things but are not complaining. In my view, complaining is ignoring the direct solutions and engaging in passive aggressive venting of emotions which has little positive outcomes as far as I know. I believe that keeping "my eyes on the prize" there is a positive effect. To have my mind and heart set on the kingdom keeps my attitude more positive and less whining and petty and ungrateful.

There is a lesson in humility from Christ. As the Son of God and part human and part divine, he chose to not use his divinity to change his situation but to accept the cross in order to give life to others. He was giving up the very thing of his own that he was giving to others. There is a depth of love that there are no words for but the act of the greatest gift says it all. It is a total gift of self in love and dedication to the will of God with an authentic intention to be a salvation for the people of God. I believe today God is calling me to embrace my cross, the giving up of myself for others in order to serve God fully. I believe I am meant to preach the Gospel to others through living the Gospel life authentically, truthfully and fully. I am a witness to the salvation and saving power of God and as such am here to share this with others. Like the people of Israel, I have had my times of falling down in the desert and this morning I pick myself up again and thank God for this day and resume the day with a dedication to give myself totally to the Gospel life in all that I do today.