Serpent on a stick

Mass Readings: March 11

First:	Numbers 21:4-9
Resp:	Psalm 102,2-3,16-21
Gospel:	John 8:21-30

Numbers 21:9 So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.

The Israelites had been rescued from Egypt, crossed the Red Sea and somehow they fall into a lack of faith. So God sends snakes to bite and kill them. But, He also sends a remedy. It might be a bit hard to believe and the people may seem a little foolish looking to a brass serpent to be healed, but that is what He gave them.
When we see the world around us we may wonder if God is here. Has He lead us to this point and abandoned us? Or has He given us a remedy to our suffering? If we look to Jesus on the cross we can be healed as well. But, just like we might find the serpent on a stick hard to believe in, can we find the bread and the wine any easier to believe in? If God can heal snake bights with a brass serpent, do we think he can heal our sins with bread and wine? Or should we just keep grumbling?

Father, help me to see with eyes of faith. Faith that doesn't fail when time goes on and nothing seems to happen the way I think it should. Help me, by your Holy Spirit, to be patient and thankful in order to see your goodness and believe in your grace.

Amen