Community Word
Jesus’ sacrificial love is our redemption and the way to a renewed life.
Order
“Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.” (Jn 8: 11b)
Reflection
During the Lenten season we are given an opportunity to revisit our life as we go through a 40-day journey with our Lord, praying and reflecting on the sacrificial love of Jesus in His passion, death and resurrection. Have we lived up to our renewal as Christians and followers of Jesus? In about a few weeks, we will be celebrating Easter Sunday and the Feast of the Divine Mercy, glorious events when we are reminded time and again of God’s unending love by giving us His Son to save us from our sins so that we may be transformed to live a renewed life.
Our community order from John 8:11b tells us: “Go, and from now on do not sin anymore,” (Jn 8: 11b). Jesus spoke to Mary, the woman caught in adultery, in a merciful gesture that He has not condemned her. In the olden days, adultery was a grave sin that deserved stoning. But not with Jesus. As soon as He uttered these words, Mary was immediately renewed and she followed Jesus. Jesus is our Redeemer, whose sacrificial love saved us and gave us a chance for a renewed life. During this month, let us reflect on the readings to see and understand how our life, renewed in Christ, may be sustained.
The theme for the 5th Sunday of Lent is – We are redeemed towards a new life when we acknowledge our sins and repent. Because of our human nature, we easily fall into sin. Yet, the Lord always gives us a chance to repent and to confess our sins to be cleansed. We ask God’s forgiveness through the sacrament of Reconciliation. If it is our genuine desire to be renewed, we need to pray diligently and reflect on God’s word so that the Holy Spirit may reveal the areas in our life that need to be changed and transformed. As we confess our sins, He will purify us from all unrighteousness. Then we will receive joy and inner peace as He so promised those who find their way back to God – “Those that sow in tears shall reap rejoicing,” (Ps 126: 5).
For Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion, the theme is – We are redeemed towards a new life when we are humble and obedient to God’s will. Humility and obedience are two virtues evident in our Lord Jesus. Our eternal redemption came at a cost only because Jesus, though divine, humbled himself to be human and willingly obeyed His Father. He was rejected, tortured and put to death shamelessly on the cross. By His death, we are offered the free gift of newness of life when we follow Jesus who is the Way. We may not have to give up our life for others like He did, but we are called to take up our own cross of life’s trials and sacrifices, die to our sinful selves and be obedient to all that Jesus teaches and commands us to do. We must be humble and willing to obey Jesus out of love for Him. As His followers, we will be consoled by this promise – “The Lord is my help…I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame,” (Is 50: 7).
We are redeemed towards a new life when we rejoice in Christ’s resurrection is the theme for Easter Sunday. Our Christian faith tells us that death is not the end, but death brings us to eternal life. The resurrection of Jesus should bring us much joy. Easter tells us that life on earth is temporary; all trials, hardships, all its ups and downs and sufferings will pass away. As Easter people, we are believers in the resurrection of Jesus Christ for we are given the hope that we will also be resurrected to join Him who is now seated at the right hand of God. St. Paul exhorts us that our destiny is heaven and we should think of what is above, not what is on earth. We are encouraged by this promise – “When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory,” (Col 3: 4).
Finally, as we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday our theme tells us – We are redeemed towards a new life when we believe in the merciful love of Jesus. We all know that Jesus is not only merciful but is Mercy Himself. He wants us to receive peace amidst confusion and sends us the Holy Spirit to strengthen our faith. When He let the disciples touch the nail marks in His hands, He wanted them to believe that He has risen to be with them so they may receive peace, truly an act of merciful love. Hence, believing in our resurrected Lord leads us to this promise – “….come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name,” (Jn 20: 31).
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we thank you for wanting us to have a new life through Your Son, Jesus Christ and for sending us Your Holy Spirit to always be with us. We are sorry when we repeatedly hurt You whenever we sin. Grant us Your merciful love and strengthen our faith. May we grow to be better each day as we make this prayer through our Blessed Mother’s powerful intercession. Amen.
Readings
April 3, 2022 – Is 43:16-21/ Ps 126:1-6/ Phil 3:8-14/ Jn 8:1-11
April 10, 2022 – Is 50:4-7/ Ps 22:8-9, 17-20, 23-24/ Phil 2:6-11/ Lk 22:14-23:56
April 17, 2022 – Act 10:34A, 37-43/ Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23/ Col 3:1-4/ Jn 20:1-9
April 24, 2022 – Act 5:12-16/ Ps 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24/ Rev 1:9-11A, 12-13, 17-19/ Jn 20:19-31