HOMILY OF TUESDAY OF THE FIFTH WEEK OF LENT YEAR B
Numbers 21:4-9, John 8:21
THEME: KNOWING WHERE WE ARE GOING
It is dangerous not to know exactly where we are going. It is either we run the risk of moving beyond our destination or we stop somewhere on the way. When we do not know why we make a journey we may lose the sense of timing.
In our today’s first reading, we see how the Hebrew lost the sense of why they left Egypt; they lost the vision of where God was taking them to. Hence, they suffered casualty simply because of their stomach. They forget the higher call of God to enter the promise and worship him. In their complaints, they were bitten by serpents and many of them die. Their survivors were those who heed the instruction of Moses and looked at the bronze serpent.
Moreover, Jesus, in our today gospel told the Pharisees, “I go away, and you will seek me and die in your sin; where I am going, you cannot come.” John 8:23. They could not understand him because they came from below; their mode of understanding was darkened and low. They were living in the flesh. Jesus cautioned them against death of their souls.
Inability to recognize the work of God in our lives can lead to spiritual death and loss of divine direction. Jesus further told them, “I told you that you would die in your sins, for you will die in your sins unless you believe that I am he.” John 8:24. Having the right knowledge of our goals helps us to gather the strength that leads to their fulfillment. Ignorance is a vision killer
May the Lord grant us sense of direction. May he grant us the vision of our goal in life that we may trod the right path to our eternal destiny. Amen.
