The Liturgy of the Word for the 5thSunday of Lent is very challenging. Reminding us of God\u2019s readiness to forgive sin, give the sinner a second chance, bind up broken lives, and restore people to His friendship, today\u2019s readings challenge us to show the same mercy to the sinners around us and to live as forgiven people, actively seeking reconciliation with God and one another. The central theme of all three readings is a merciful God\u2019s steadfast love. The readings remind us that we should not be self-righteous and condemn the lives of others when God is calling them tenderly to conversion.<\/p>\n
Explaining how a merciful God forgives the sins of His chosen people and leads them back from the Babylonian exile, the first reading reminds us that we too are forgiven, and we are saved from our own sinfulness. In the second reading, Paul presents himself as a forgiven sinner who has been completely transformed by his Faith in Christ Jesus. His life is an example of the Gospel exhortation, “Sin no more.” Paul loves Christ so much he wants to share in His sufferings and even in His death so that he may share Christ\u2019s Resurrection. The sinful woman\u2019s story of sin committed, and sin forgiven in today\u2019s Gospel, shows the inexhaustible mercy and compassion Jesus offers to repentant sinners. In addition, by making sinlessness the condition for throwing the first stone, Jesus forces the accusers to assess their own souls and to leave. Thus, He grants justice to the accusers and mercy to the sinful woman. In our own lives, we bear witness to the Justice of God by confessing our sinfulness and resolving to avoid sin, and we bear witness to God\u2019s Mercy by accepting the forgiveness of our sins and promising to forgive those who have offended us.<\/p>\n
We need to become forgiving people, ready for reconciliation: Jesus has shown inexhaustible mercy and compassion to sinners by dying for our sins. But we are often self-righteous, like the Pharisees, and ready to spread scandal about others with a bit of spicy gossip. We are judgmental about the unmarried mother, the alcoholic, the drug addict, or the shoplifter, ignoring Jesus\u2019 command: “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Let us learn to acknowledge our sins, ask God\u2019s forgiveness every day and extend the same forgiveness to our erring brothers and sisters. We need to learn to hate the sin but love the sinners, showing them Jesus\u2019 compassion and working with the Holy Spirit to make our own lives exemplary so that we can help lead them to Jesus\u2019 ways. With that kind of attitude, it would be much easier finding joy celebrating Easter this year.<\/p>\n
With prayers for you all, Fr. Tom<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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