The WORD today reminds me that God should be lifted up in my life.
Countries build statues for national heroes. Mga bayani, as we call them. This is done to commemorate and remind people, especially future generations, of the good these people have done. These statues are usually big and elevated so people would easily notice them and be reminded. In the same way that these statues are elevated and lifted for people to see, God should be treated like that as well.
In the first reading, we see an amazing story. God sent serpents to kill the evil people. Ungrateful people. However, Moses pleaded with God, and God told him what he can do. They made a bronze serpent who healed everyone who looked up at it. How cool that might have been. The same serpent that bit and brought death and destruction was also used to bring healing and life. In the gospel, we see the realization of the real healer who should be lifted up. We are reminded of Jesus being lifted up and healing, curing and saving people. In the second reading, we see that God greatly exalted Jesus and lifted him up, him who lived selflessly for God. As we celebrate the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, we are reminded that God deserves to be lifted high, and that we should lift him up in our lives.
God has been good to us, even if we do not deserve it. However, sometimes we easily forget God’s goodness and blessings in our lives. This is what happened to the people in the first reading. However, The psalmist warns us not to forget all that God has done for us. When faced with problems and when the world overwhelms us, there is a tendency to forget all that God has done for us and just worry and think of the concern at hand. God does not deserve that.
God deserves to be lifted up in our lives.
Jesus is an example of how we can lift God high through our lives. We see this in the second reading. To lift God up, we should humble ourselves before Him. He emptied himself and obeyed God all throughout. Jesus did this. He was God, but took human form because he loves God the Father. He gave up everything, even being one with God – when he bore our sins on the cross. He lived a simple life being carpenter’s son and not a son of a king. He preached about God’s kingdom. He healed the sick and brought glory to God. He stepped out of his comfort zone and emptied himself and allowed God to be exalted.
In the same way the people looked up to the serpent to live and be saved, we too as God’s children should look up to God to live. He should be God in our lives. And just as how the serpent changed from being a bringer of death to life, and the cross was changed from being a symbol of evil to being a symbol of life and redemption through Jesus, so should we trust in God and his transforming love and power. This is what we should lift up as well - God’s transforming love and power.
In our lives, there are a lot of serpents. People and things that will try to kill and destroy us. They will succeed, if we let them. And the only way for us to be saved is to lift Jesus in our lives. Look up to him and focus on him, not on others around us. How do we do that? By choosing to focus on Him and spreading his compassion by not joining others who talk ill about an annoying person in the office, By choosing to lift him up and obey traffic rules even if no one will see if you break them, By choosing to lift him up and do good even if others around us do not, By stepping out of our comfort zone and do things for God, no matter how simple they may be, for his glory.
Do I lift God up in my life? How? How do I show other people God’s goodness, greatness and love through my life? Who are the people in my life who I can share God’s love with? What can I do to lift God in my life today, especially as we are in a pandemic?
May we always remember all the things God has given and done for us, and may we be inspired and moved to lift him up in our lives and trust his transforming love and power.
Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another weekend. Thank you for another inspiring reminder. Thank you for your great love and all your blessings. Thank you for all the times you have helped me, for always being there for me. Sorry for the times I forget all you have done. Sorry for being overwhelmed by my current problems that I forget your goodness and your power. Lord, I ask that you help me empty myself so I may be humble and willing to lift you up in my life. Rid me of everything that is not of you. Help me step out of my comfort zone and trust you as I do things for and with you. As I do, I know you will do great things so your name would be lifted up and glorified. Amen.
Blessed Week!
In Christ,
-g-
September 14, 2020
The Exaltation of the Holy Cross - Feast
FIRST READING
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.
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.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
R. 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 him and inquired after God again, Remembering that God was their rock and the Most High God, their redeemer.
R. Do not forget the works of the Lord!
But they flattered him with their mouths and 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 sin and destroyed them not; Often he turned back his anger and let none of his wrath be roused.
R. 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 him and inquired after God again, Remembering that God was their rock and the Most High God, their redeemer.
R. Do not forget the works of the Lord!
But they flattered him with their mouths and 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 sin and destroyed them not; Often he turned back his anger and let none of his wrath be roused.
R. Do not forget the works of the Lord!
SECOND READING
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.
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.
ALLELUIA
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your Cross you have redeemed the world.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your Cross you have redeemed the world.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL
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.
“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.
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