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Tuesday of the 5th Week of Lent

1st Reading            Numbers 21:4-9
Psalm                      101:2-3,16-21 (R. 1)
Gospel                     John 8:21-30

By: Edmund Elorm Ackuaku

Patience 

 The readings of today speak directly to us about two kinds of virtues we ought to cultivate as people who are journeying like Israelites through the Desert of Lent. In fact, we are reading from Numbers and John. These are significant to our understanding of our time today. 

The first reading speaks about an event which occurred in the desert. We read about the Israelites speaking against God and Moses. They were portraying impatience. God sent seraphs to deal with them for which some had to die. We see Moses as an intercessor who pleads again on behalf of the people and God responded as usual to save the situation. The response was the construction of a bronze serpent on a tree so that anyone bitten by any serpent might look at it and be well again.

The bronze serpent on a raised tree is going to serve as the New Testament cross on which Christ, the redeemer, will be hanged for the same sign of salvation typical to the bronze serpent. In fact, this is one of the few texts used in defence of the use of images in the Church. 

We have to notice how the Gospel dwells on John's account and the message seems to be strategically placed. We have moved to a portion where belief in Jesus seems to become stronger and stronger.  This invites us to reflect on our knowledge of Christ as we are walking with Christ in Lent. 

Lent invites us all to ponder Christ crucified as a result of our impatience. When man complained and did not see the good in God's providence God's wrath was turned towards him. Without delay, let us seek to amend our foolish ways, our ways of impatience and sin. 

May the Lord grant us the Grace to see the good in his providence and grant us the virtue of patience. 

Amen 


#40DaysInTheDesert
#PaxEtBonum

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