35th Day of Lent: April 8, 2014: “ I AM”

35^th Day of Lent: 

 April 8, 2014:

                                                 “ I AM”

In Mount Nebo, Jordan, there stands a ‘bronze serpent mounted on a pole’ not far from where Moses himself had a view of the promised land that he would not get to enter.

On the way to Mount Nebo, my group of pilgrims, had traveled all day long through the heat, suffocating humidity, dust, and aridity of the desert. It was enough for us to complaint. 


The Israelites were there for a long haul. So their journey was long, boring and painful. No wonder they complained. The desert snakes got them. They then accepted their wickedness before God and Moses and asked for forgiveness. We see a God who defies our definition and relents of any punishment. 

Moses then raises the famous bronze serpent so that they ‘may look at it and recover’. This is a prelude to Jesus who will be ‘lifted up’ on the cross so that those who ‘gaze at the glorified son may claim salvation’. 

Our journey through the deserts of our lives, however hard, painful, difficult, hazardous, may be there is a promised joy
 at the end of a long road of suffering.



It is the joy of being able to ‘gaze upon the 
Son of Man’ in life eternal. 






As we draw closer to the holy week, we will be focusing on the cross of our redemption. Do we really ‘gaze upon the cross with love that knows no bound’? 

Five years ago when I picked up the body of my father from the mortuary it was a 10 mile long journey back home where the wake would be held overnight. That ten miles I never forget for I took my time to lovingly gaze upon the face of my dad and told him how much I loved him and would miss him.

The cross that was erected on Calvary where Jesus gave all that He had for us must be looked at with profound love for Jesus indeed is love embodied for our wickedness, sin and infidelity. 

Reconciliation happens when we claim our true identity as sons and daughters of God, claim responsibility for our wickedness and finally claim redemption that Jesus won on the cross for us. 


Today let us pause to look at the Love on the cross.

God Bless you always!

Sincerely Yours,
Rev. Fr. Cyriac Chandy Mattathilanickal, MS

Wishing you and yours A Holy Lent!

Rev. Fr. Tom Puthusseril, M.S.

Shrine Director

                                            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUT3vMAm3gk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GweTWQecQ1U

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