Tuesday of the 5th Week of Lent

• First Reading – Numbers 21:4-9: The journey of the Israelites on the Red Sea route, during which they complained about their difficult journey and lack of provisions. As punishment for their complaints, the LORD sent venomous snakes among the people, but Moses interceded on their behalf, and God instructed him to create a bronze serpent on a pole for anyone who had been bitten to look at and be healed.
• Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 102: A prayer that asks the Lord to hear the speaker’s plea and not turn away during times of distress. It also speaks of the nations revering the Lord and the Lord hearing the prayers of the destitute and releasing those who are doomed to die.
• Gospel – John 8:21-30: Jesus warns the Pharisees they cannot follow him without faith. He reveals his unity with the Father, speaking only what he was sent to say, and many come to believe in him.

When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I AM, and that I do nothing on my own, but I say only what the Father taught me. 

John 8:28

Tuesday of the 5th Week of Lent brings us readings that highlight God’s mercy and the importance of faith. The themes center on the struggles of the Israelites, Jesus’ message of salvation, and the call for trust in God’s plan. These themes invite reflection on our need for trust and the healing power of God’s mercy.

• God’s Faithful Mercy: God’s response to the complaints of the Israelites shows his mercy despite their rebellion. The readings remind us that God remains faithful, even when we turn away.
• Need for Repentance: The Israelites’ suffering and their call to Moses for help reflect the importance of repentance. God hears their plea and provides a way to heal, showing his readiness to forgive when we turn to him.
• Healing Through Faith: God instructs Moses to make a bronze serpent for the people to look upon for healing. This reminds us that healing often comes through acts of faith and trust in God’s power.
• Christ as Savior: In the Gospel, Jesus tells the Pharisees of his mission and connection to the Father. Jesus invites them to believe in him, showing that faith in him is the way to salvation.
• Human Limitations and God’s Wisdom: The people question God’s plan during their journey, but God’s wisdom proves greater than their understanding. This theme reminds us that we may not see the full plan, yet God’s guidance is for our good.
• Faith and Obedience: Both readings emphasize the importance of obedience in faith. The Israelites’ healing required looking at the bronze serpent, and Jesus calls for belief in him for eternal life.

Reflecting on these themes for Tuesday of the 5th Week of Lent encourages us to trust in God’s mercy and plan. Tuesday of the 5th Week of Lent invites us to place our faith in Christ, our true source of healing and life.

Tuesday of the 5th Week of Lent brings readings that explore themes of faith, healing, and trust. The journey of the Israelites and Jesus’ words to the Pharisees both show how God calls us to place our confidence in him. Through signs and words, God offers healing and invites us to believe, even when we do not fully understand. These reflections examine how God’s call to faith can help us grow in hope, courage, and trust.

Looking to God for Healing

On Tuesday of the 5th Week of Lent, the first reading tells of God’s instruction to Moses to make a bronze serpent and lift it on a pole so the Israelites could be healed by looking at it. The people had been complaining, and as a result, they faced a plague of deadly serpents. When they turned back to God in repentance, God provided a way for them to be healed.

The bronze serpent reminds us that God often uses our acts of faith to bring about healing, whether in body, mind, or spirit. It took courage and faith for the Israelites to look up at the serpent, believing that God would heal them through it. This image can help us understand that sometimes our healing comes not through immediate relief, but through trust in God’s care and power.

Tuesday of the 5th Week of Lent encourages us to turn our gaze to God, especially in moments of pain or fear. Like the Israelites, we may sometimes lose patience or struggle to understand what God is doing in our lives. But when we look to him with open hearts, we allow his strength to work in us, bringing hope and healing in ways that may surprise us.

Faith in Jesus as Our Path to Salvation

In the Gospel reading for Tuesday of the 5th Week of Lent, Jesus speaks to the Pharisees about his mission and relationship with the Father. The Pharisees do not fully understand who Jesus is, and he tells them they must believe in him to have life. Jesus knows that through his life, death, and resurrection, he will open the path to salvation for all who believe.

When Jesus speaks of his relationship with the Father, he reveals the close, trusting bond they share. Jesus’ entire life and mission flow from his obedience to the Father’s will, even though it will ultimately lead him to the cross. In this, we see Jesus inviting each of us to believe in him and to trust that he is the way to the Father and to eternal life.

Tuesday of the 5th Week of Lent encourages us to strengthen our faith in Jesus. Trusting in him means believing that he guides us to the Father, even in our times of doubt or confusion. Just as he called the Pharisees to open their hearts, Jesus invites us to trust in his words and find hope and purpose through his love and sacrifice.

Turning from Doubt to Trust

In both readings for Tuesday of the 5th Week of Lent, the theme of trust over doubt appears strongly. The Israelites complain in the desert, doubting whether God will care for them. They lose faith in his guidance, but God offers healing and a renewed chance for trust through the bronze serpent. In the Gospel, the Pharisees question Jesus and struggle to trust that he is from God. Jesus invites them to believe in him, but many resist, held back by doubt.

God understands that we can often find ourselves struggling with doubt and frustration. We may wonder why we face difficult situations or worry about the future, just as the Israelites and Pharisees did. However, God’s response to doubt is never one of abandonment. Through Moses, he shows the Israelites a way forward, and through Jesus, he offers salvation to all who will trust in him.

Tuesday of the 5th Week of Lent calls us to replace doubt with trust. God does not ask us for perfect understanding, but he invites us to walk with him in faith, even when we cannot see the way clearly. By choosing to trust in him, we open our hearts to his care, allowing his peace to fill us in times of uncertainty.

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Tuesday of the 5th Week of Lent encourages us to renew our trust in God, just as the Israelites were asked to look to him for healing, and the Pharisees were invited to believe in Jesus. By focusing on these themes, we are reminded that God patiently guides us through doubt and invites us into a relationship built on trust and faith.

Prayer

Lord, help me trust in your love, especially when I struggle to understand. Guide my heart to see your work and let my faith grow stronger. Lead me closer to you each day, and help me seek you with confidence and hope. Amen.

Reflection Questions

• When have I felt impatient or doubtful, like the Israelites in the desert?
• How can I turn to Jesus more fully as my guide and source of hope?
• What are ways I can strengthen my trust in God during uncertain times?
• How does Jesus’ invitation to believe in him speak to my own journey of faith?

What date is Tuesday of the 5th Week of Lent?

The next date is Tuesday April 8, 2025.

What are the Mass readings for Tuesday of the 5th Week of Lent?

The Mass readings for Tuesday April 8, 2025 are:
First Reading – Numbers 21:4-9: The Bronze Serpent
Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 102: Seeking Comfort in God’s Eternal Faithfulness
Gospel – John 8:21-30: Jesus Reveals His Origin and Mission

Why were the Israelites punished with serpents in the first reading for Tuesday of the 5th Week of Lent?

The Israelites complained and doubted God while on their journey. God allowed them to face difficulties, like the serpents, to show the need for trust and repentance.

What does the bronze serpent represent?

The bronze serpent lifted up by Moses became a symbol of healing. This reminds us to look to God in faith, especially in times of struggle, and trust his guidance.

How can we relate to the Israelites’ impatience?

The Israelites grew impatient and complained during a hard journey, which many of us experience in daily life. This teaches us to seek patience and to bring our worries to God, trusting that he will provide help in his time.

Why does Jesus tell the Pharisees they cannot follow him in the Gospel for Tuesday of the 5th Week of Lent?

Jesus speaks of his return to the Father, and the Pharisees do not understand this. He tells them that they must believe in him to be with him, showing us the need to place our faith in Jesus.

What does it mean to believe in Jesus’ words?

Believing in Jesus’ words means trusting in his teachings and promises. On Tuesday of the 5th Week of Lent, this reading encourages us to keep faith in Jesus, especially when facing doubts or challenges.

How does the Gospel show God’s mercy?

God’s mercy is shown when Jesus calls people to believe and follow him for eternal life. This shows that God continually reaches out to us, inviting us to find healing and hope in him.

Why does Jesus say we are from below, and he is from above?

Jesus is explaining that he has a divine purpose from God and is calling us to a higher way of life. By following Jesus and his teachings, we connect with God’s ways.

What is the importance of obedience in these readings for Tuesday of the 5th Week of Lent?

In the readings, healing and hope come through listening and following God’s guidance. The Israelites had to look at the bronze serpent to be healed, teaching us that obedience leads to blessings.

How can we apply these readings to our lives?

These readings remind us to seek God’s help in difficult times and to trust his guidance. Tuesday of the 5th Week of Lent encourages us to rely on Jesus for strength, healing, and hope.