Jesus makes a reference to an early snake practice in this Sunday’s Gospel. It refers to people being sick and looking upon a bronze snake to be healed: “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” Some self-titled Christians misinterpret Jesus’ use of the reference. They believe Jesus is making a comparison between the snake being lifted up and Jesus being lifted up on the cross and being murdered. But Jesus being lifted up has nothing to do with the blood sacrifice of the cross. His being lifted up is instead a reference to his being healed from that blood sacrifice of the cross through his Resurrection. His Resurrection is his being lifted up. The Resurrection is the ultimate example of being lifted up out of suffering and death by Divine healing power so as to have eternal life.
It is likely that a snake cult or practice is behind the famous story of St. Patrick whose feast day is celebrated this week. Patrick is understood to have been a wealthy non-practicing Christian youth kidnapped out of Britain to Ireland. He was enslaved on the island for 6 years until he made his escape. He converted to Jesus’ Way and began to feel a great love for his captors and all the Irish people who were also enslaved to a violent blood sacrifice culture. Patrick returned to Ireland bringing Jesus’ healing witness with him. In one sense, Patrick has eternal life through the many stories told of him, especially the story of him driving out all the island’s snakes. But there is no evidence of snakes ever having been on the island. It is possible that the story was first told to herald Patrick as a healing power. It credits Patrick with transforming Ireland’s warrior culture that had practiced human sacrifice. Ireland had been a violent blood sacrifice culture and believed snakes were a symbol of their eternal life. Patrick was a peacemaker who healed the people of their violence. He helped the people create a peaceful culture evident of real life and also eternal life. Through Patrick, a healing witness of rebirth/Resurrection transformed the islands people.
All people can be reborn. We can be reborn out of a slave state in which we are held captive by a violent military culture practicing human sacrifice. We can become a healing witness able to transform death so as to have life; here and for eternity.
Prayer: Power of Healing, may we give ourselves to continual rebirth.
Question: How can we help the U.S. transform its violence and help create a healing culture?
March 15, 2015 Gospel John 3:14-21 Fourth Sunday of Lent