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28 March

Statue of the Crucifixion outside St, Edmunds Church in Bungay.

…and if anyone was bitten by a serpent, he looked at the bronze serpent and lived.

Numbers 21:9

Our first reading today is the last in a series of stories of the Israelites grumbling against their condition in the desert. Their failure to display trust reaches a climax here, as they speak out against God and Moses.

In response, God sends poisonous snakes into their midst. The people repent and God directs Moses to make a bronze serpent and lift it high on a pole so that all who look on it will live.

Despite the self-destructive rebellion of the people, God still longs to save them and he does so by transforming the deadly snakes into an instrument of healing. The gospel image of Jesus being “lifted up” is taken from this story. Jesus is lifted up on the cross and God transforms this symbol of betrayal and violence into a source of hope and new life.

We live in a world where there is so much betrayal and violence. Where our self-destructive rebellion has caused harm to our common home, the earth, and to our global family. We all need to look upon something to give us hope and strength. In this time of Lent, let’s fix our eyes on Jesus, lifted high on the cross, and join him in working to make all things new.

Lent prayer

Lord Jesus,
we turn to you
lifted up before us,
confident in the new life
your cross and resurrection
have brought us.
Amen.

Act

Follow and reflect upon Jesus’ journey to Calvary with our Stations of the Cross resource.

Stations of the Cross

Our Stations of the Cross resource is a journey of transformation, and can be used on your own or in a group.