Daily Mass Readings – Monday, 14 September 2026

4b With the people began to be weary of their journey and labour:

5 And speaking against God and Moses, they said: Why didst thou bring us out of Egypt, to die in the wilderness? There is no bread, nor have we any waters: our soul now loatheth this very light food.

6 Wherefore the Lord sent among the people fiery serpents, which bit them and killed many of them.

7 Upon which they came to Moses, and said: We have sinned, because we have spoken against the Lord and thee: pray that he may take away these serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.

8 And the Lord said to him: Make brazen serpent, and set it up for a sign: whosoever being struck shall look on it, shall live.

9 Moses therefore made a brazen serpent, and set it up for a sign: which when they that were bitten looked upon, they were healed.

R. (7b) Do not forget the works of the Lord!

1 Attend, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

2 I will open my mouth in parables: I will utter propositions from the beginning.

R. Do not forget the works of the Lord!

34 When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned, and came to him early in the morning.

35 And they remembered that God was their helper: and the most high God their redeemer.

R. Do not forget the works of the Lord!

36 And they loved him with their mouth: and with their tongue they lied unto him:

37 But their heart was not right with him: nor were they counted faithful in his covenant.

R. Do not forget the works of the Lord!

38 But he is merciful, and will forgive their sins: and will not destroy them. And many a time did he turn away his anger: and did not kindle all his wrath.

R. Do not forget the works of the Lord!

6 Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

7 But emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men, and in habit found as a man.

8 He humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even to the death of the cross.

9 For which cause God also hath exalted him, and hath given him a name which is above all names:

10 That in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth:

11 And that every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your Cross you have redeemed the world.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

13 And no man hath ascended into heaven, but he that descended from heaven, the Son of man who is in heaven.

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of man be lifted up:

15 That whosoever believeth in him, may not perish; but may have life everlasting.

16 For God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son; that whosoever believeth in him, may not perish, but may have life everlasting.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world, to judge the world, but that the world may be saved by him.

The wilderness story shows how quickly weariness can turn into complaint and forgetfulness. Israel had experienced God’s saving power, yet their hearts became fixed on what they lacked. When they acknowledged their sin, God did not abandon them. He gave them a sign through which they could look toward healing. The psalm deepens this lesson: God’s people may speak religious words while their hearts remain unfaithful, yet the Lord continues to show mercy and remembers his covenant.

Jesus reveals the fullness of that mercy. Like the serpent lifted up by Moses, the Son of Man is lifted up on the Cross so that those who believe may have life. The One who was in the form of God emptied himself, became obedient even unto death, and was exalted by the Father. The Cross therefore reveals both the seriousness of sin and the greater love of God, who sent his Son to save rather than condemn. When discouragement, resentment, or sin wounds us, we are not asked to hide it. We can turn honestly toward Christ, remember the works of God, and trust the mercy flowing from his Cross.

Lord Jesus, lifted up for the salvation of the world, keep me from forgetting your mercy when I am weary or troubled. Give me an honest heart that recognizes sin without despair, and a faithful heart that looks to your Cross with trust. Teach me to remember the works of God, to speak truthfully before you, and to follow your humble obedience in the choices of this day. May your love heal what sin has wounded, deepen my faith, and lead me into the life you promise. Jesus, my Savior, I place my hope in you. Amen.