In today’s readings Jesus gives us a way to interpret the Old Testament that has been very influential in the Church. In the famous episode from the wanderings of the chosen people after the Exodus, Moses constructs a bronze serpent and sets it on a pole. Whoever among those bitten by the poisonous serpents looks at the image of the bronze serpent is healed from the bite.
The Bronze Serpent
It is certainly one of the more curious episodes of the Old Testament. Usually Moses and the prophets are inveighing against golden calves or other various idols. But this time, God himself instructs Moses to mold a bronze serpent and set it up so that the people can look at it.
This shows us that artistic images can help in true worship and honor of God. In this case, it also has the beautiful role of foreshadowing a reality to come later in New Testament times. As Jesus himself says, those who believe in him who is raised up will have eternal life: they will be healed from their sin.
Other Instances
Another instance where the New Testament uses an episode from the Old Testament to convey a truth happens in Peter’s first letter. He writes that those who are baptized are like Noah and the seven other people who were saved from death in the flood, while everyone outside the Ark perished. Peter, inspired by the Holy Spirit, urges us to appreciate our baptism through the use of this comparison.
Post-apostolic writers have seen rich symbolic meanings in other Old Testament passages. Gregory of Nyssa, one of the 4th-century Fathers of the Church, wrote about the burning bush Moses saw and compared it to Mary. The bush was burning with fire but not consumed. Mary conceived and gave birth without losing her virginity.
Tertullian, writing in the early 3rd century, compares the wood that Abraham piled up in preparing to sacrifice Isaac to the wood of the Cross. Isaac, like Jesus, even carries the wood for the sacrifice—but we know that God spared Isaac. This was the foreshadowing of the one perfect sacrifice that would save us from our sins.
Enriching our Prayer
These examples, I would say, are ways of enriching our prayer. As everyone who spends serious time in prayer knows, it is a challlenge to keep our thoughts on holy things during prayer. In discerning these symbols, these new ways of looking at the Old Testament, different saints have utilized their prayer time to the fullest.
We, too, can augment our prayer by considering every aspect of a text, a holy image, or a religious piece of music. We meditate not only on the literal meaning, the parts of the image or the sounds, but we also consider them in the light of every aspect of our faith. Possibly we will be inspired to see a connection that will enrich our appreciation, our love for God who gives us faith.
