Reading 1 Numbers 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 serpent looked at the bronze serpent, he lived. Responsorial Psalm Psalm 78:1bc-2, 34-35, 36-37, 38 R. (see 7b) Do not forget the works of the Lord! Hearken,

Reading 1 1 Corinthians 10:14-22 My beloved ones, avoid idolatry.I am speaking as to sensible people;judge for yourselves what I am saying.The cup of blessing that we bless,is it not a participation in the Blood of Christ?The bread that we break,is it not a participation in the Body of Christ?Because the loaf of bread is one,we, though many, are one Body,for we all partake of the one loaf.Look at Israel according to the flesh;are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar?So what am I saying?That meat sacrificed to idols is anything?Or that an idol is anything?No, I mean that what they sacrifice,they sacrifice to demons, not to God,and I do not want you to become participants with demons.You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and also the cup of demons.You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and of the table of demons.Or are we provoking the Lord to jealous anger?Are we stronger than him? Responsorial Psalm Psalm 116:12-13, 17-18 R.&nb