Tuesday of the 5th Week of Lent
Tuesday March 24, 2026
Lifted Toward Healing and Faith
Tuesday of the 5th Week of Lent reminds us to look up in faith when life feels difficult. The people of Israel grew tired and angry during their long journey. When they turned back to God, He gave them a way to be healed. Their story shows that even when we fail, God still offers mercy.
The psalm for this day is a prayer from someone who feels weak and alone. It shows how we can speak honestly to God. Even in pain, the psalmist trusts that God listens and brings hope. This trust helps us remember that we are never forgotten.
In the Gospel, Jesus explains that true life comes through faith in Him. Some people do not understand His words, but others begin to believe. On Tuesday of the 5th Week of Lent, we are invited to trust Jesus more deeply and to turn our eyes toward the cross, where mercy and healing are found.
Daily Mass Readings for 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
Themes for the Readings for Tuesday of the 5th Week of Lent
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.
Reflection for Tuesday of the 5th Week of Lent
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.
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?
Homilies and Commentaries for Tuesday of the 5th Week of Lent
Everyone Needs a Moses
In this reflection for Tuesday of the 5th Week of Lent, Fr. Clifton Harris shares the story of the Israelites in the desert. They were tired, frustrated, and complained against God. When serpents attacked them, they turned to Moses to pray for them. God told Moses to make a bronze serpent, and those who looked at it were healed. Fr. Harris compares this to our own struggles and how we often need someone to pray for us and walk with us.
He reminds us that we all need a “Moses” in our lives—someone who listens, cares, and intercedes for us. At the same time, we are called to be that person for others. Lent can feel long and hard, but it is a time to support each other. As we approach Holy Week, we are reminded that Jesus is lifted up for our healing. Like Moses, we too can help others by standing with them in prayer and love.
The Illusion of Being Alone
The reading for the Tuesday of the 5th Week of Lent reminds us that even when we feel alone, we are not. Jesus says, “He who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone.” Many people feel isolated in life, but this is not the full truth. God is always with us. The spiritual world surrounds us—Father, Son, Holy Spirit, Mary, the saints, and angels. We are never truly alone, no matter how we may feel.
Matthew Kelly explains how loneliness can be a heavy burden, but it is often a trick of the mind or spirit. If we limit our view to what we can see and touch, we might believe we are alone. But if we open ourselves to the full reality of God’s presence, we realize we are always in good company. This is a key message in the reading for the Tuesday of the 5th Week of Lent.
Closer Every Day
In the Gospel for Tuesday of the 5th Week of Lent, Jesus speaks with the Pharisees, who do not recognize who he is. They close their hearts to his words and choose not to see the truth. Jesus tells them they don’t understand because they belong to the world and not to the Father. This moment reminds us how easy it is to miss God’s voice when we are not open to him.
Deacon Arthur Miller encourages us to use this time of Lent to grow closer to God—not just through small sacrifices, but through real change. Lent is about giving up sin and making space for God’s presence in every part of life. It’s a call to live each day with God, not just for an hour on Sunday. As we near the end of Lent, we’re invited to make a daily choice to be transformed and walk with God more fully.
The Way Up Is Through the Cross
Jesus speaks of his coming death on the cross. The cross is not just a sign of suffering—it reveals our sin. Pride, fear, injustice, betrayal, and violence are all shown there. We see the worst of human nature played out in full. But the story does not end with this exposure of sin.
On Tuesday of the 5th Week of Lent, Bishop Barron explains that the cross also shows God’s mercy. Jesus takes all our sin upon himself, not to condemn us, but to save us. In facing the darkness, we begin to rise. The cross becomes the way forward. When we see clearly and turn to God’s mercy, healing begins. What was once a sign of pain becomes the way to new life.
Resources
The Book of Numbers: Healing in the Wilderness
This passage from Numbers shows the Israelites’ struggle to trust God during their desert journey. The people’s complaints reveal their weakness of faith, even after witnessing God’s care. When the serpents come, the people recognize their sin and turn back to God, who responds with mercy through the bronze serpent.
In the larger story of Numbers, this event fits the pattern of sin, punishment, repentance, and renewal. It reminds us that healing comes when we look to God with faith. On Tuesday of the 5th Week of Lent, this reading points to Jesus lifted on the cross, through whom all believers find salvation.
Psalm 102: A Cry for Mercy
Psalm 102 is a heartfelt plea from someone who suffers deeply. It reflects the human need to call out to God in distress, trusting that He listens to the brokenhearted. The psalmist’s honesty and dependence show that God’s care reaches even those who feel forgotten.
In the whole book of Psalms, this prayer represents the ongoing relationship between God and His people. It shows that lament can lead to hope and that God’s mercy endures. On Tuesday of the 5th Week of Lent, it reminds us that God never turns away from those who seek Him.
The Gospel of John: Faith and the Father
In this Gospel, Jesus speaks of His coming departure and the need for faith in Him. The Pharisees cannot understand because they remain bound to worldly thinking. Jesus’ words reveal His unity with the Father and His mission to bring truth and life to those who believe.
Throughout John’s Gospel, faith and revelation are central themes. Jesus is shown as the Word made flesh who brings salvation through His relationship with the Father. On Tuesday of the 5th Week of Lent, this passage invites us to believe in the one sent by God and to walk in the light of His truth.
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The Cross That Brings Light
This image for Tuesday of the 5th Week of Lent captures the message of hope found in the readings. The bronze serpent lifted in the desert brought healing to those who looked upon it, just as Jesus lifted on the cross brings light and life to the world.
Use this artwork in your parish bulletin, newsletter, or youth ministry to reflect on faith, healing, and trust in God’s mercy.
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Questions and Answers for Tuesday of the 5th Week of Lent
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.
Trusting God’s Mercy and Plan
Tuesday of the 5th Week of Lent focuses on trust, healing, and faith. The first reading recounts how the Israelites, struggling in the desert, turned to God after facing a plague of serpents. Despite their complaints and lack of faith, God instructed Moses to make a bronze serpent, providing a way for the people to be healed. This story highlights God’s mercy and his desire to lead his people back to him, even when they stray.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks to the Pharisees, urging them to believe in him. He explains that his mission is to do the will of the Father, offering salvation to all who trust in him. Many of the Pharisees resist his words, but Jesus continues to extend the invitation to faith. His message reminds us that trusting in him leads to eternal life.
Both readings encourage us to place our confidence in God’s care, even when we face struggles or doubt. The Israelites’ healing and Jesus’ words to the Pharisees show that God is always ready to guide us if we turn to him in faith. Tuesday of the 5th Week of Lent is a time to reflect on God’s mercy and how we can trust in his plan, even when we do not fully understand it.
Your Turn
Tuesday of the 5th Week of Lent challenges us to reflect on how we respond to struggles and doubt. Do we trust God, or do we let fear take over? Consider how the Israelites turned to God for healing and how Jesus called the Pharisees to believe in him.
Reflect on your experiences and share your thoughts in the comments. Your words can inspire others to grow in faith and trust.