Daily Homily 3-31-2020
5th Tuesday of Lent (Numbers 21:4-9)
We are very interested in how vaccines are made as we wrestle with the Covid 19 virus. Somehow it is ironic that the way vaccines are made for various illnesses is that scientists manipulate the virus causing the disease.
We all know that if we get the flu in the winter and it is a mild case then we are usually immune from further sickness (at least from the same strand of flu). When we get a flu shot, many times, there is a mild reaction that revolves around flu like symptoms and then we are less likely to get the flu during cold weather. The disease can be the source of a cure.
We can think of that example as we hear the story from Numbers that we read at Mass today. The people of Israel suffer from snake bites and they are cured when Moses puts a bronze serpent on a pole and has all the people look at it. When they see the image of the snake they are cured. Confronting the source of the poison takes the illness caused by the poison away.
Jesus says in the Gospel of John that he must be “lifted up” so that humanity might be saved. One of the things he is alluding to with his words is the cross that is lifted up on Calvary. When we behold the cruelty and death represented by the cross it is hard to look at, but it was the death of Jesus on the cross which helped bring about the salvation of the world.
In a similar way we remember that it is not until we confront sin in our life that forgiveness can occur. Sometimes our failings are hard to confront for they can be ugly, but if we have the courage to look upon the wrong, we have done, and we say we are sorry we can receive absolution from the Lord.
The Israelites looked on the bronze serpent realizing they had been ingrates and that they had lacked trust. They felt sorrow for what they did and the were cured of their afflictions. Certainly, this example points to how we can leave sin behind.
Dear Parishioners,
I hope that you continue to keep the faith even in the face of social isolation. For those of us who live with someone this time might be a little easier to bear. Then again, it may not, but at least we have a chance for some social interaction.
For those who live alone the stay at home order may be a heavier cross. I would like to suggest a Lenten Penance. During Lent we are to pray, fast and do charity. This falls under the umbrella of charity.
Think of those people who sit around you in church every week. Are there people who live alone that you know? This week make a list and start calling them. This is a way to keep our Christian community alive. It is a simple gesture, but I have been trying to make a few calls daily. It is impossible for me to reach out to everyone. I need your help. Really, Jesus needs our help to be his voice of comfort.
May the angels protect you today and may Our Lady intercede for you.
Fr. Mark