Numbers 21:4-9 Psalm 102 John 8:21-30

“But 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.”…When I read the first part of today’s scripture passage from the book of Numbers, I didn’t like it at all – complaining people, angry God killing them with bites from fiery snakes. This isn’t the way I like to think about God. But as I delved further, I found it to be an amazing reading, for me at least. “Then the people came to Moses and said, ‘We have sinned in complaining against the Lord and you. Pray to the Lord to take the serpents from us.’ So Moses prayed for the people...”

This reading spoke to me about complaining and about praying. Since I received my cancer diagnosis last year, I have learned the importance of not complaining about what I don’t have and what I can’t do. I have tried to focus instead on being thankful for what I have and for what I can do. On my first reading of this passage, I saw a very powerful God who used his power to punish his people. On further readings, I saw people who realized that their complaining and lack of trust was sinful. They asked God for forgiveness and they prayed. Then, our merciful God removed the scourge of the serpents and gave the people an antidote for the poisonous bites.

In the face of my illness, I try not to complain. I try to be thankful for what I have, and I pray. A friend gave me a prayer attributed to St. Francis de Sales, that sustains me in time of need:

Do not look forward to what may happen tomorrow. The same Eternal Father who takes care of you today will take care of you tomorrow, and every day of your life. Either He will shield you from suffering or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace then, and put aside all useless thoughts, all vain dreads and all anxious imaginations.

I’m learning, as did the Israelites, to trust in our powerful and merciful God.

Q: What is the wretched food and who are the saraph serpents in my life? How can I remind myself to replace my complaints with prayer and trust in God?

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