Mass Readings for September 14, 2023

Numbers 21:4-9
Psalms 78:1-2,34-38
Philippians 2:6-11
John 3:13-17

Numbers 21:4-9
(4) They traveled from Mount Hor by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom The soul of the people was very discouraged because of the journey. (5) The people spoke against God, and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no bread, and there is no water; and our soul loathes this disgusting bread.” (6) Yahweh sent venomous snakes among the people, and they bit the people. Many people of Israel died. (7) The people came to Moses, and said, “We have sinned, because we have spoken against Yahweh, and against you. Pray to Yahweh, that he take away the serpents from us.” Moses prayed for the people. (8) Yahweh said to Moses, “Make a venomous snake, and set it on a pole. It shall happen, that everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” (9) Moses made a serpent of brass, and set it on the pole. If a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked at the serpent of brass, he lived.

Psalms 78:1-2,34-38
(1) Hear my teaching, my people. Turn your ears to the words of my mouth. (2) I will open my mouth in a parable. I will utter dark sayings of old, (34) When he killed them, then they inquired after him. They returned and sought God earnestly. (35) They remembered that God was their rock, the Most High God, their redeemer. (36) But they flattered him with their mouth, and lied to him with their tongue. (37) For their heart was not right with him, neither were they faithful in his covenant. (38) But he, being merciful, forgave iniquity, and didn’t destroy them. Yes, many times he turned his anger away, and didn’t stir up all his wrath.

Philippians 2:6-11
(6) who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, (7) but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. (8) And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross. (9) Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name; (10) that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, (11) and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

John 3:13-17
(13) No one has ascended into heaven, but he who descended out of heaven, the Son of Man, who is in heaven. (14) As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, (15) that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. (16) For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. (17) For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him.