03.05.24 - Gospel Tuesday
- tmaley
- Mar 11, 2024
- 21 min read
Northern Virginia Catholic Bible Study & Apologetics
Every Tuesday, 7PM-8PM
This meeting is a lecture/Q&A format. It is free.
House rules/notes…
Our meeting/classes are In-Person at St. John Neumann Catholic Church 11900 Lawyers Road, Reston, VA 20191 https://saintjn.org/ (usually held downstairs in Room 5), or ONLINE via Zoom (see #2).
To sign up for Zoom notifications and to receive the Meeting Recaps, go to www.meetup.com/catholicbiblestudy and join us! The Zoom Logon is the same every week: Zoom ID: 861 1782 2081 Password: 406952.
After each meeting, I send out Meeting Recaps of what we discussed. Please remember these recaps are unedited and without the pictures. The edited version with pictures will be posted before the next class on the Website – www.CatholicCatacombs.org. Taylor will notify everyone at that time and provide a link.
Questions encouraged. If you have questions, we ask that you keep them on topic and brief. You can ask in the chat box during the class, or email through Meetup.com, or email me at ron@hallagan.net afterwards.
Respectfulness. We will be discussing differences between religions and between Christian denominations, and we agree to be respectful at all times. Protestants especially are our friends and brothers-in-Christ; in fact, I personally owe part of my return to the faith to them!
No politics. It would be easy for us to self-destruct, but that’s not our goal. Our goal is to learn/understand/apply the Bible and our Catholic faith.
Catholic Prayer & Fellowship. Are you interested in praying the rosary, etc. with other Catholics during the week? Follow fellow member Jason Goldberg at https://www.meetup.com/online-catholic-prayer-fellowship-and-spirituality/. Daily/weekly prayer is saintly!
“The Chosen” TV series. All of us seek a relationship with Jesus Christ, which is not always easy. It can help if we have seen and heard Him. The Chosen captures Jesus better than any show I have ever seen. Highly recommended.
RSVP Reminder: Please RSVP whether you are attending the meeting or just reading the Recaps afterwards. The more RSVPs, the more Meetup will give exposure to “Catholic Bible Study” – a good thing!
Catholic Catacombs Website: www.CatholicCatacombs.org
Bible Study Format: Each week of the month has a repeating topic, as noted below.
Each meeting: 5 min greet, prayer, 10-15 min Catholic topic, 40-45 min main topic.
Week 1: Gospel Week
Week 2: Bible Week (Gen to Rev): We are in The Book of JUDGES.
Week 3: Survey Topics Voted on by Members:
x 1) Jesus’ Greatest Parables x 2) Hell, Purgatory, Heaven x 3) Comparative Religions
4) Great Women in the Bible 5) Book of Revelation 6) Fathers, Heresies, and Church Councils
Week 4: Member Questions:
What is “conscience?”
How do I live my Christian faith at work when my faith is not accepted there?
What should our response be to those who ask us about priestly sex abuse?
What about the atheist who leads a good life? Can I be a person be good apart from God?
Miracles since the NT
What’s the difference between Charity and Love? What are the highest forms of charity?
Was King David good or bad? Was Emperor Constantine good or bad? Was he a Christian? What is a prophet?
Why does God allow suffering?
What do you think a day in the life of God is like to Him?
What is Tradition? Is Tradition equal to Scripture in importance? (2Thes2:15)
Apologetics and Exegesis Terms
Apologetics – to defend a belief.
Catholic Apologetics– to defend the Catholic faith using reason, tradition, & scripture.
Exegesis – the study and interpretation of Scripture (it’s what we do here every week; you are all exegetes).
Eschatology (Greek, eschaton=last/end): the study of the End Times: the Second Coming of Christ (called Advent in
Latin, Parousia in Greek), Judgement Day, Heaven & Hell. In exegesis, you will hear Parousia more than Advent.
Typology – The study of Old Testament events that are completed or fulfilled in the New Testament.
“The Old Testament is revealed in the New; the New Testament is hidden in the Old.” – St. Augustine
Bible = The OT (46 books) The Torah (Pentateuch, Books of Moses), the Prophets, the Writings (Wisdom, Novellas).
The NT (27 books) The Gospels and the Epistles (Epistles: New Test Letters (Paul), Catholic Letters, and Revelation).
Best Bibles – The Didache Bible, Ignatius Study Edition; Ignatius RSV 2nd Catholic edition; Augustine Bible.
Breaking of the Bread – what the Lord’s Supper was referred to in the first century. The bread & wine become Jesus’ body/blood after he broke the bread and gave thanks, giving rise to the “Eucharist,” from eucharistia = thanksgiving.
Christianity – was called The Way until about 50AD, after Jesus' statement that he was "the Way, the Truth, and the Life" (John 14:6). Then the name 'Christians' was given to them to differentiate them from Jews.
Church – The whole body of Christian believers, with Christ at the head. Also, Greek kyriakon - building for Christian worship.
Ark of the Covenant: a) The golden chest holding the 10 Commandments; b) Mary’s womb holding the Word of God
Tabernacle - the portable sanctuary used by the Israelites in the wilderness during Exodus the from Egypt and then in the Temple in Jerusalem by Solomon (and again later by Herod). Latin tabernaculum – tent; temporary dwelling place.
Temple – Latin templum - space set aside for sacrifice/worship; replaced the Tabernacle; the Temple in Jerusalem.
Synagogue – Jewish house of worship often w/facilities for religious instruction. Greek synagogue: assembly/gathering.
Church Authority – The Church is the only authority given by Jesus Christ to interpret the Word of God: "Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in Heaven" (Mt 18:18-20). Otherwise, there could be a different interpretation for every Scriptural passage for every person who ever read them, resulting in division vs unity (which is why there are 17+ Eastern Orthodox churches and 10,000 Protestant churches). Catholic Church teachings are nothing more than the Church’s interpretation of that which has already been revealed by God, either through Scripture or what has been handed on from Apostolic Tradition. This body of the Church’s interpretation is called the “Magisterium” and it is not superior to the Word of God, but its servant. The Church cannot make up anything outside what has been handed to it, but rather guards and teaches it (CCC#86, 890). In fact, the Church believes that Divine Revelation ended with the Apostles.
Church Doctrine refers to all of the official teachings of the Church. There are several levels of teachings:
“Theological Opinions” are teachings that express a pope’s views in a subject but are not doctrine/not binding.
Doctrine: Those that the Church teaches authoritatively but not infallibly. Elements within these can change.
“Ex cathedra” means when the pope “speaks from the chair of Peter.” Infallible doctrine, indirect revelation.
Dogma: Those teachings which the Church has infallibly taught to be divinely revealed.
Heresy – the rejection of dogma (category d only).
Epiphany – Epiphany means a sudden appearance, revelation, or manifestation from above. In Christianity, it refers to the revelation of Jesus Christ as Savior of the World to the gentiles (Magi) 12 days after Christmas.
Theophany means the appearance of God, such as Yahweh to Moses on Mt. Sinai, or at the Transfiguration. Note “phany” in both words, from the Greek phainein = to appear. [Theo=God + phany=appear]
Mass – the celebration of the Last Supper/Eucharist. “Mass” is from the Latin missa meaning “to send (out).”
Evangelize – to make the Kingdom of God present in our world.
Forgiveness – letting go of past harm to God or others. When Jesus forgives, there is a presumption of repentance, which also presumes changes in behavior – i.e., when he forgives the prostitute, he says, “Go and sin no more.” When we forgive, we mainly forgive the person because “judgment” belongs to God. The other person’s bad behavior is a separate matter.
Mercy – withholding harsh treatment or judgment that is justified.
Repentance – to turn away from a Self-centered life and towards a God-centered life; each time we sin and turn to God for forgiveness; repentance presumes heartfelt regret for sin and heartfelt desire to do better with God’s help.
Humility – the quality of being continually open to God and others, a requirement for gaining wisdom; the opposite of arrogance (full of oneself). “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” Mt 11:28-29. As C.S. Lewis said, “Humility isn’t thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less often.”
God as Father/He/Him – scriptural tradition (God is not a gender); God does set the gold standard for fatherhood.
Man – generic for mankind, humanity.
Deism – belief in a supreme being/creator who does not intervene in the universe, or who is indifferent to it.
Theism – belief in the existence of God or gods, especially the believe in one God who is creator of the universe and is actively engaged in some way, intervening in it and sustaining a personal relationship with his creatures.
Atheism – the belief that gods or spirituality of any kind do not exist.
Agnosticism – the belief that God may, or may not, exist – we don’t know, we can’t know.
Preternatural – means “outside the natural”; refers to a unique state of grace Adam & Eve were in before the Fall.
The “World” – as used in the Bible, this term pertains to the nonreligious/secular world, or our temporary, material lives. In fact, the word “secular” (Latin seaecularis) = worldly/temporal. Biblically, “this world" often has a negative meaning, i.e., “The fall of man resulted from our choosing this world over God.” This physical world is not bad as God made all things good. But figuratively speaking, it refers to materialism, selfishness, and greed, i.e., “worldly temptations.”
Patristics, Tradition, Revelation, Concupiscence, Octave, Love, Justice, Righteous, Patience, Righteous, Hyperbole, Soteriology, Apostolic Succession, Polytheism, Pantheism, Eucharistia: Thank you, Lord, I am grateful for your saving presence in my life. Kenosis: Lord, I will try to empty my “self” as you did, to be present to others. Metanoia: Today, Lord, I will yoke my mind, my heart, and my soul to You. Maranatha: Come, Lord, enter, and make your home with me/us! “A lie travels all the way around the globe while the truth is still putting on its shoes.” – Mark Twain
Permission to Record…
Opening Prayer
Our Father
Who art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily Bread;
And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Notice that “Thy Kingdom come” means the Kingdom is at hand, in front of us. The next statement “Thy Will be done” is the doorway, how we access the Kingdom. We access it by “incarnating His Will into our actions” – which makes His Kingdom visible in our lives, here on Earth… on earth as it is in Heaven.
Only the highest beings were given free will, and God wants us to teach us how to use it. Why? Because the highest love, beauty, and joy in existence – of which we only have a small measure – must be chosen, and it is a chosen path to God, and that can’t happen without free will. God gave us free will so He could share Himself, but He can’t share Himself without us choosing and cooperating.
Humanity’s first tendency with free will is no different than a child in a candy store: “I want more,” “I want what’s fun and feels good,” “I want what I want,” “I, I, I.” And many of us never grow up. Even powerful, cruel tyrants remain spiritual infants.
This also applies to those humans seeking “self-actualization.” Self-actualization without God is exactly what Adam & Eve did – “We can be gods without God!” – which led to the Fall. On the other hand, self-actualization is exactly what God wants to give us, but it can’t happen with only us at the center.
Q: What is God’s “Will” that we are trying to align our wills with?
God’s Will is all the things we hold dear: love, truth, justice, beauty, love of neighbor, forgiveness, and charity.
Analogy: Have you ever heard people refer to the alignment of the planets? They don’t really “align” like the picture below, but every 500 years or so five planets come close to it. Nothing really happens except the increasing/decreasing of tides, but when people say the planets are aligned spiritually (a pagan concept), they mean there are opportunities for heightened cosmic connections and spiritual awakening.
But let’s take this pagan analogy and Christianize it for a moment. Let’s say the Sun is God and the planets are us and all the activities of our lives that we control. When we choose ourselves to be the center, that would be like trying to line up all the planets with our own small planet of “wants.” If everybody did that, we would have mayhem (left). And even though it’s impossible to succeed, our ego and our pride will never stop trying. However, if we align our wills with God, everything we choose to do begins to reflect His will of perfection. Perfect love and truth, unskewed by our own egos.
BTW, when we reflect God’s will/rays, we don’t stop being who we are; we just do things much better. When we are kind, honest, fair, gracious, generous, and helpful, people love us because we are being – and becoming – our very highest selves!
Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.
Upcoming major holy days in the Liturgy of the Church
Feb 14 – Mar 28: Lent – Our 40 days in the desert ends on at the Last Supper (Holy Thursday)
Question from Tuesday night: Did Jesus have a Guardian Angel?
I didn't think so, but just to be sure I agreed to double-check.
Q: Did Jesus have a guardian angel?
The Catholic Church teaches that guardian angels are appointed by God to guard and protect individual souls, including children and adults, on their journey towards salvation. These angels are intermediaries between God and man, doing everything they can to ensure the fulfillment of their divine mission.
While guardian angels are assigned to individuals to guide them towards salvation, Jesus, being sinless and the Son of God did not require such protection or guidance, as He is the source of salvation Himself. Therefore, the concept of guardian angels does not apply to Jesus, as He is the divine Savior and does not need angelic protection.
Today
Reading #1 Abraham and Isaac
Abraham is the only one with faith enough to be the starting point for God’s covenant with “a people” that would continue God’s plan of salvation, culminating in Jesus Christ. We say “a people” because God established 6 major covenants along the way to Christ:
‘1-Couple 2-Family 3-People/Tribe 4-Nation 5-Kingdom 6-Catholic/Universal/Mankind
Adam & Eve Noah Abraham Moses David Jesus Christ
Q: The Greek term “catholic” means “universal,” meaning what?
1) It means that Christ, who created the universe, is in it and also the head of it. 2) Christ came for all mankind.
“Wheresoever the bishop shall appear, there let the people be, even as where Jesus may be, there is the Catholic Church.” – St. Ignatius of Antioch to the Smyrnaeans, 107 AD.
The Testing of Abraham takes place in Genesis, chapter 22.
Context: The story is widely recognized as a literary masterpiece, depicting in a few lines God as the absolute Lord – inscrutable yet ultimately gracious – and Abraham, acting in moral grandeur as the great ancestor of Israel.
We know this is a difficult story for many people because God calls on Abraham to sacrifice his own son – the son he had waited for till he was 100 years old. Why would God ask Abraham to do such a horrible thing? We know it has to do with faith, but it can still cause many of us difficulty.
We know that context is critical to understanding scripture, which is often provided by previous or following passages. That is also true here. In Ch 21, Hagar and Ishmael were sent away by Abraham with no provisions or protection. As far as he knows, they could have been sent to their death. Suddenly, in the next chapter, God calls on Abraham to make a sacrifice of his own son. A connection, perhaps? It is helpful to understand what kind of sacrifice Abraham is being asked to make.
Q: How many types of sacrifices are there in the OT?
Five: 1) burnt offering, 2) grain offering, 3) peace offering, 4) sin offering, and 5) trespass offering.
Offerings could be an unblemished animal or the first fruits of the field; each of them had a specific purpose and involved a long list of ritual requirements. The important thing to know for today’s story is that the sacrifice God asks of Abraham is a “burnt offering.” A burnt offering is a sacrifice of atonement.
Q: What is “atonement”?
Atonement means to bring harmony or unity back to something that was broken (also, “at one-ment”). A synonym for atonement is reparation (repair a wrong or injury to another).
Q: What did Abraham do wrong?
After Isaac was born, Sarah had extreme difficulty living with their servant woman, Hagar, by whom Abraham had a son named Ishmael. The bad blood between Sarah and Hagar was unbearable and Sarah wanted her gone. God told Abraham to respect Sarah’s wishes since Isaac was to be the seed of the chosen people. Abraham decided to send Hagar and Ismael off into the desert where they likely would have died had God not sent an angel to save them. God did not tell Abraham to abandon them like that to the unknown wilderness.
God uses Abraham’s mistake and this incident to accomplish several things: 1) teach Abraham, 2) produce an unmistakable statement about the importance of faith, and 3) prophecy.
Q: Where is the location of Mt. Moriah?
In this chapter it doesn’t say, but Moriah is identified in 2 Chronicles 3:1 as the mountain of Jerusalem where David later had a vision from God and made it his capital. The distance from Beersheba is about 50 miles, a three-day walk.
Q: How old is Isaac at this time?
This is not certain but, given the other events that occur before and after, we know he had to be between 20 and 37 years old. Some say he was 33, the same age as Jesus.
One important thing to understand about this is that Abraham is a very old man at this time and so Isaac could have overpowered him easily. Once Isaac realizes that he is the sacrifice, he doesn’t argue or run away, he does what he is told. Isaac turns out to be very trusting and obedient, kind of like Abraham. But what is the other comparison? Jesus doing his father’s will when he was sacrificed on the cross, as atonement for OUR sins. Are you starting to see the connection?
The Testing of Abraham – Genesis Ch. 22
After a time, God put Abraham to the test and said to him: “Abraham!”
“Here I am!” he replied.
Then God said: Take your son, Isaac, your only beloved son, and go to the land of Moriah. There offer him up as a burnt offering on one of the heights that I will point out to you.
Early the next morning Abraham saddled his donkey, took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac, and after cutting the wood for the burnt offering, set out for the place of which God had told him.
On the third day Abraham caught sight of the place from a distance. Abraham said to his servants: “Stay here with the donkey, while the boy and I go on over there. We will worship and then come back to you.”
So Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac, while he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two walked on together, Isaac spoke to his father Abraham, “Father!” he said. “Here I am,” Abraham replied.
Isaac continued, “Here are the fire and wood, but where is the sheep for the burnt offering?”
“My son,” Abraham answered, “God will provide the sheep for the burnt offering.” Then the two walked on together.
When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it.
Next, he bound his son Isaac, and put him on top of the wood on the altar. Then Abraham reached out and took the knife to kill his son.
But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven, “Abraham, Abraham!”
“Here I am,” he answered.
“Do not lay your hand on the boy,” said the angel. “Do not do the least thing to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not refused me your own beloved son.”
Then, looking up, Abraham saw a ram caught by its horns in the thicket. Abraham took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering in place of his son. Abraham named that place “Yahweh-provides,” hence people today say, “On the mountain the LORD will provide.”
The angel of God called Abraham a second time from heaven. “I swear by my very self, Yahweh declares, that because you have done this, because you did not withhold your son, your own beloved son, I will bless you and make your descendants as countless as the stars of the sky and the sands of the seashore.
Your descendants will take possession of the gates of their enemies, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed by your descendants, because you have done as I have asked.”
Q: Why did God call Isaac Abraham’s “only beloved son”?
Ishmael had been sent away many years before. Isaac was the only son God promised would be a father of a nation of descendants in fulfillment of the covenant.
Q: As impressive as Abraham’s faith is, some still wonder how a father could agree to sacrifice his long-awaited son like this. What could be the reason for this?
No one doubts that Abraham was in anguish during this trip wondering what God was asking him to do. But Abraham also believed that God would somehow make good on his word, even if He had to bring Isaac back to life. He indicates as much in Verse 5 when he tells his servants, “Wait here, we shall worship and come back to you.” God promised Abraham that Isaac would be the guy, so given how much trust Abaham has already shown in God, he trusted God would solve this. Now that’s faith.
Q: What about God? What was He thinking?
It becomes clear at the end of the story that God never intended for Abraham to kill his son. Yes, God is looking for someone with incredible trust to carry salvation history forward, but God also wants to give an example to all future generations (i.e., us) how important faith is. Faith is the door to all spiritual growth, to our becoming everything we destined to be, and to Heaven.
Q: I heard it said once that faith is the “currency” of all things spiritual. What is currency?
Currency is the means of exchange or trade – for purchasing things and getting anything done. In primitive times, people paid for things with other products, like trading food for clothes, or wheat and grain for animals – or for protection. Trading and acquiring became much easier once we invented money. Money is our currency for getting or doing anything.
The question before us is: What is spiritual currency? What is the currency for getting anything done or making things happen in the spiritual realm?
God is teaching us that “faith” is spiritual currency, whether we are asking for help, thanking Him, or moving us closer to Heaven. Worldly money is material, won’t come with us, and means nothing.
When we think about the things Jesus said, this becomes more obvious. What did he say to those he healed? “Your faith has healed you” or saved you. Faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains. Faith is everything. This is the point that is being made in God’s selection of Abraham as the father of the chosen people.
We said above that the third reason for God doing this was prophetic. Isaac is the prefiguring of Jesus Christ (typology!).
Let’ count the ways Isaac prefigures Jesus:
The passage above says that Isaac was his only beloved son, which God reiterates 2000 years later at Jesus’ baptism and transfiguration.
Isaac and is obedient to his father, even to his death, just like Jesus. “Father, remove this cup from me… but Your will, not mine be done.”
Isaac carries the wood of his sacrifice on his back up the hill. Jesus does the same with the cross.
Isaac is laid on the wood he carried for the sacrifice. Jesus is laid on the wood he carried and nailed to it.
The ram is substitute for Isaac. Jesus represents the ram, who is substituted for all of us on the cross.
Recall that Isaac asks Abraham on the way up the hill where the animal to be sacrificed is. Abraham replies, “God will provide.” Indeed, God does.
The ram’s head is caught in thorns. Jesus head is likewise crowned with thorns.
The hill for the sacrifice is the same location as the future Jerusalem and crucifixion (Mt. Moriah).
You can’t make this stuff up.
Gospel # 2 Peter is elevated – Matthew 16:13-19
When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Q: Do you know where the “keys to the kingdom” comes from?
In the Jewish monarchy starting with King David onward, the #2 person in the kingdom was the Prime Minister. He was said to have the “keys to the kingdom” because he could make decisions on behalf of the king. This is what Jesus is doing with Peter – the Pope is like his earthly Prime Minister, but Jesus is the King and the Head of the Kingdom/Church.
Upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it (Mt 16:18). Did you know that there is a physical chair of St. Peter located in St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican? Tradition holds that it is the original wooden seat used by St. Peter whenever he preached or taught the Christians in Rome. The chair was later encased in bronze, and is an impressive work of art. There is even a feast day that honors the Chair of Peter (Feb 22).
Q: Where does the idea of the “Chair of Peter” come from?
This was a long tradition of the Jews. It used to be called the “Chair of Moses.” Jesus even refers to it:
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. – Mt 23:1-3
However, the reading isn’t about furniture. It’s about what it signifies. The Chair of St. Peter stands as a symbol of the special mission of Peter and his successors to tend Christ’s flock, keeping it united in faith and in charity. It’s a sign that Jesus has kept the promise he made to Peter, which we read in today’s Gospel: “The gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against [the Church].” – Mt 16:18
It’s no secret that some of Peter’s successors over the centuries have been less than exemplary in their faithfulness to God. We also find this to be true of Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, and every prophet who ever lived. In fact, it is true of all the people of God up to, and including, us.
Yet God has always been faithful to his promises. He has continued the unceasing flow of graces to the world through the Church. In fact, despite many forces of darkness over the millennia coming against it from within and from outside, the Church remains united in its faith and in charity.
If it were up to us – if we were God – we probably would have given up on humanity and even the Church a long time ago. Obviously, God has other plans; His love has already conquered death for us. Only because of Him will the Church continue to survive, because Jesus is the Church, and because of Him so are we.
Q: What was the first written instance we have of The “Bishop of Rome” having authority over the Christian bishops/churches?
Pope St. Clement of Rome in his Letter to the Corinthians in 96AD, where he warned them to respect the office of the Bishop and against thinking they could create their own leadership. Clement was a disciple of Peter’s.
Q: What was the first written reference to the “Catholic Church”?
Where the bishop appears, there let the people be, just as where Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church. – St. Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Smyrnaeans, 107 AD. Ignatius was a disciple of the Apostle John.
Gospel Reading for this coming Sunday, March 10: Nicodemus Visits Jesus (John 3:14-21)
Context: Unlike most of his fellow Pharisees, Nicodemus had enough depth of insight to want to know more about Jesus. He found Jesus compelling and confounding at the same time. The passage below is an example of that. We will not be focusing on the larger story surrounding Nicodemus, but the specific reference Jesus makes about the serpent in the desert.
To understand what Jesus is talking about, we should review the story in Numbers Ch. 21. (Numbers, Deuteronomy, and Leviticus are all extensions of the Exodus story.)
The Bronze Serpent, Numbers 21:4-9.
From Mount Hor they set out by way of the Red Sea, to bypass the land of Edom, but the people grew impatient on the way; and so they spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food or water, and we loathe this worthless food!”
So the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, which bit the people so that many of them died.
Then the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned by speaking against the LORD and you. Intercede with the LORD so He will take the serpents away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.
The LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and mount it on a pole. When anyone who has been bitten looks upon it, he will live.
So Moses made a bronze serpent and mounted it on a pole. If anyone who was bitten looked at the bronze serpent, he recovered.
Q: What the heck is going on with this crazy story?
There’s a typology connection to Jesus, so let’s read the Gospel passage and solve both together.
Jesus said to Nicodemus: “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.
Q: First, before going forward to Jesus, let’s go backwards in time. What does the serpent call to mind?
Adam & Eve and the Fall of Man. The advice of the serpent led to their fall and mortality (death). The serpent
represents sin and brings death. The Israelites in the desert are ungrateful and grumbling, which quickly leads to mutiny or overthrow. The serpent represents their own sins brought on by themselves.
The bronze serpent is for the people to face their own sin in remorse. Only by doing so will the serpent’s power end.
Q: How does Jesus’ comparing himself to the serpent make sense?
Jesus will take on the sins of mankind and have himself nailed to the cross to end the power of sin. Those who are willing to face their sins and look upon Him with faith will live. In the desert, they lived to see another day. With Jesus, we live to see forever. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but that the world might be saved through him.
Closing Prayer
5600
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee,
Blessed art though among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners
Now, and at the hour of our death.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and every shall be, world without end.
Amen.
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