I thank God for each March 23rd. I was hit by a
truck while bicycling on this day in 1993; and I am here to tell about it. I very
well might have been killed and I didn’t walk away from the incident. I spent
three weeks in a hospital and five months in a turtle-shell brace from waste to
shoulder. It was a year before I got on a bicycle again! But I’ve enjoyed a
full recovery and have only a few scars and occasional knee trouble for my trophies.
A lot of good people -- parishioners, family and health care professionals -- put
me back together and back on my feet. Praise God for healing!
Today’s first reading about healing, from the Book of Numbers, lends itself to today’s reading from the Gospel of Saint John.
We should notice the people asked that God would “take the
serpents away from us” but he gave them something better. Their solution would
have only removed the threat; God’s solution healed both those who were sick
and those who would get sick.
By his death and resurrection Jesus
has not taken us out of this world into a safe place where no snakes bite and
no troubles appear. There is no such place in this world. If we ventured to
another world we would certainly take our snakes with us, along with all the
other evils we create from our wretched hearts. If we go to that mysterious place of which
Jesus speaks in today’s gospel, we’ll have to
leave behind a lot of baggage!
Instead of ridding our world of trouble, the Lord gives us
his cross to gaze upon. Contemplating his suffering and death, as we do
especially during Lent, heals our eyes and minds and hearts. People who have
pondered too long the pleasures of wealth, success, security and comfort will
find their satisfaction in this vision of God among us. People who destroy the
optic nerves of their faith with Internet pornography have only to gaze upon
his cross.
The cross of Jesus is a lighthouse to
guide us back to reality, where the goodness of God abides. It is a healing,
dynamic vision of Truth, who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.