Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Reading 1 and//usccb.org/bible/numbers/21:4 NM 21:4B-9 With their patience worn out by the journey,the people complained against God and Moses, Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in this desert,where there is no food or water?We are disgusted with this wretched food!”In punishment the LORD sent among the people saraph serpents,which bit the people so that many of them died.Then the people came to Moses and said, We have sinned in complaining against the LORD and you.Pray the LORD to take the serpents from us.”So Moses prayed for the people, and the LORD said to Moses, Make a saraph and mount it on a pole,and if any who have been bitten look at it, they will live.”Moses accordingly made a bronze serpent and mounted it on a pole,and whenever anyone who had been bitten by a serpentlooked at the bronze serpent, he lived. Responsorial Psalm and//usccb.org/bible/psalms/78and1 PS 78and1BC-2, 34-35, 36-37, 38 R. Do not forget the works of the Lord! Hearken, my people, to my teachingincline your ears to the words of my mouth.I will open my mouth in a parable,I will utter mysteries from of old. R.Do not forget the works of the Lord! While he slew them they sought himand inquired after God again,Remembering that God was their rockand the Most High God, their redeemer. R.Do not forget the works of the Lord! But they flattered him with their mouthsand lied to him with their tongues,Though their hearts were not steadfast toward him,nor were they faithful to his covenant. R.Do not forget the works of the Lord! But he, being merciful, forgave their sinand destroyed them notOften he turned back his angerand let none of his wrath be roused. R.Do not forget the works of the Lord! Reading 2 and//usccb.org/bible/philippians/2and6 PHIL 2and6-11 Brothers and sistersandChrist Jesus, though he was in the form of God,did not regard equality with God something to be grasped.Rather, he emptied himself,taking the form of a slave,coming in human likenessand found human in appearance,he humbled himself,becoming obedient to death,even death on a cross.Because of this, God greatly exalted himand bestowed on him the namethat is above every name,that at the name of Jesusevery knee should bend,of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth,and every tongue confess thatJesus Christ is Lord,to the glory of God the Father. Alleluia R.Alleluia, alleluia.We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you,because by your Cross you have redeemed the world.R.Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel and//usccb.org/bible/john/3:13 JN 3:13-17 Jesus said to Nicodemusand No one has gone up to heavenexcept the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man.And 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.”For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,so that everyone who believes in him might not perishbut might have eternal life.For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,but that the world might be saved through him.