Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent

Readings of the day: RB 41 The Times for Community Meals

Mass: Nb 21:4-9; Resp Ps 102; Jn 8:21-30

Whenever anyone who had been bitten

by a serpent looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.

(Nb 21:9)

Pondering the Word today, why not spend some time praying with your favorite crucifix. Mine is here—it belonged to a friend who died just over three years ago. It is a figure of Christ—the original is of bronze, from Central France, 12^th century. The figure of Christ has neither hands nor feet. With the psalmist we pray: ‘O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you. Hide not your face from me in the day of my distress. Incline your ear to me; in the day when I call, answer me speedily’ (Ps 102).

Behind every crucifix, hidden, for we cannot see him, stands our Risen Lord.

Hidden in every suffering and pain is closer union with him.

His is the victory. He invites us to share it.
(B. Hume, The Mystery of Love, p. 69)

WHEN I AM LIFTED UP FROM THE EARTH,

I WILL DRAW ALL TO MYSELF,

SAYS THE LORD.

(Communion Antiphon, Mass)