bad blood
"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 recovered." —Numbers 21:9
The Israelites had already been poisoned before being bitten by the saraph serpents. The poison of grumbling, rebellion, and discontent was flowing through their veins long before the poisonous venom of the serpent bites was introduced into their bloodstream. God's merciful antidote to the poison of the serpent bites was to have Moses make a bronze serpent, mount it on a wooden pole, "and whenever anyone who had been bitten by a serpent looked at the bronze serpent, he recovered" (Nm 21:9).
Today we likewise are threatened by poisonous venom. Grumbling, rebellion, and discontent flows through the secular culture surrounding us. Satan injects this poison into the bloodstream of many. Yet God has sent a most powerful Antidote: Jesus lifted up on the wood of the cross. "Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that all who believe may have eternal life in Him" (Jn 3:14-15). Jesus, lifted up on the cross, draws humanity to Himself (Jn 12:32), and brings healing (Jn 3:14ff) to all who gaze on Him in faith (Heb 3:1), and teaches us that He is God, I AM (Ex 3:14; Jn 8:28).
"Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus" (Heb 12:2). We have bad blood, poisoned by the venom of the culture of death. Let Jesus give you a Eucharistic blood transfusion, with His own pure and precious Blood. Repent of focusing on the "wretched food" of the world (Nm 21:5), which leads to grumbling. Eat the new food of the Eucharist, which leads to eternal life (Jn 6:54-56).
Prayer: Father, how can I make a return to You for all the good You have done for me? (Ps 116:12)
Promise: "When you lift up the Son of Man, you will come to realize that I AM and that I do nothing by Myself." —Jn 8:28
Praise: Thomas fasts from midnight till after each Mass he serves to be a holy vessel for the Savior.
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, November 28, 2018
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