5th Sunday of Lent (Cycle C, Year I)
Community Word: Being a community of believers, we are raised with Christ as we reform our ways and bear fruit.
Theme: We reform our ways and bear fruit when we do not condemn those who have gone astray.
Promise: “… I put water in the desert and rivers in the wasteland for my chosen people to drink.” (Is 43:20)
Reflection:
It is exactly a week before Palm Sunday, the day that ushers in Holy Week which in turn, culminates our observance of Lent. Membership to a community like BLD – no matter how long – does not insulate us from sin. We all continue to be vulnerable to and marred by the stain of sin without exception.Temptations are unrelenting, constantly pulling us away from following the path of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Lent offers us an opportunity to review our life’s journey towards eternal salvation. It is the time to acknowledge our sinfulness and beg God for His mercy, trusting in His goodness and unconditional love for us.
Today’s gospel is an unparalleled story of mercy and forgiveness. Jesus demonstrates His compassion towards the adulteress who was about to be stoned to death. Instead of condemnation, Jesus gives His unqualified acquittal and pardon to a proclaimed sinner in the eyes of man. Of the mortifications expected of His disciples especially during Lent, mercy and forgiveness are among the most difficult to fulfill. It is so much easier to condemn those who have gone astray. Mercy defies logic. It is dispensed with no regard for justice, repentance, or atonement, and is wrenched from the goodness of one’s heart. But our theme for the 5th Sunday of Lent reminds us to forgive: We reform our ways and bear fruit when we do not condemn those who have gone astray.
In forgiving the woman, Jesus offers her a second chance. This is in keeping with His word in our 1st reading, “Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider not; see, I am doing something new!” (Is 43:18-19). During his public life, Jesus not only forgave sins but also made plain the effect of this forgiveness: he reintegrated forgiven sinners into the community of the people of God from which sin had alienated or even excluded them, (CCF 1443). Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go and from now on do not sin anymore,” (Luke 8:11). This statement gave the woman a new lease in life, with an opportunity to start with a clean slate.
We too, are given this same chance to turn a new leaf through the sacrament of Penance or Reconciliation. The Fathers of the Church present this sacrament as “the second plank of salvation after the shipwreck which is the loss of grace,” (CCC 1446). The second reading declares, “…but one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,” (Phil 3:13). No sin is too big to be forgiven by our Lord when one goes to confession with a truly contrite heart. Jesus’ compassion for sinners is made even clearer to us when we realize that adultery is a clear violation of one of the 10 commandments – Thou shall not commit adultery. And yet, Jesus condemned the sin but not the woman.
In a community like BLD, we hear of quarrels and differences among members over minor issues that cannot compare with the gravity of the offense committed by the adulterous woman. And yet these conflicts, no matter how petty in origin, could sometimes drag on for years, mainly because of pride and self-righteousness. “Hypocrite!” says Luke 6: 42, “Take the plank out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly to take out the splinter that is in your brother’s eye”.
Whenever such conflicts occur, it is vital to recall the reason we are members of Bukas Loob sa Diyos, as embodied in our vision, “We are a community of disciples inspired by the Holy Spirit to be living witnesses of transformation in Christ…” In order to keep this vision alive, and in order to make sense of all the countless LSS and encounter weekends we sponsor, we bear in mind that to be living witnesses for Christ means to be less judgmental, and to be more forgiving and compassionate of one another, keeping in mind that “…all will know we are truly your disciples by the love we bear for one another.”
As we near the end of our Lenten journey and reassessment of our relationship with Christ, there’s no better time to reform our ways and start anew. It is time to make a clean break with the past through a general confession, pleading for the mercy of God, who is the hope and refuge of sinners. When we recommit to follow Him in obedience, we can bear fruit and rightfully claim His promise for the week, “… I put water in the desert and rivers in the wasteland for my chosen people to drink.” (Is 43:20)
Prayer:
Lord, we reflect upon Your unfathomable mercy and compassion in pardoning the woman caught in adultery. We profess too, our sincere repentance for the many times we have offended You and acknowledge that, like her, we are unworthy sinners. Thank you that Your love for us is unconditional and Your mercy knows no bounds. Grant us the grace to make an extremely good general confession this Lent so we can turn over the page of our life and begin anew. Keep us from being judgmental and too quick in passing judgment on others. Allow us to readily release forgiveness, especially to members of our community. You are the Lord of second chances and we thank you for never giving up on us. In Jesus mighty name we pray, Amen.
Reflection Questions:
1. In what ways, and what areas of life do I find myself most judgmental?
2. How can I ensure that I don’t rush into judgment of others, especially people within my own community?
3. How can I prepare to make a good confession that leads to sincere repentance, conversion of mind, values, attitudes, conduct, and life?
This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
March 17, 2013 (Sun) Is 43:16-21/Ps 126:1-6/Phil 3:8-14/Jn 8:1-11
March 18, 2013 (Mon) Dn 13:1-9,15-17,19-30,33-62 or 13:41-62/Ps 23:1-6/Jn 8:12-20
March 19, 2013 (Tues) 2Sm 7:4,5,12-14,16/Ps 89:2-5,27,29/Rom 4:13,16-18,22/Mt 1:16,18,21,24 or Lk 2:41-51
March 20, 2013 (Wed) Dn 3:14-20,91,92,95/Dn 3:52-56/Jn 8:31-41
March 21, 2013 (Thur) Gn 17:3-9/Ps 105:4-9/Jn 8:51-59
March 22, 2013 (Fri) Jer 20:10-13/Ps 18:2-7/Jn 10:31-42
March 23, 2013 (Sat) Ez 37:21-28/Jer 31:10-13/Jn 11:45-56
“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”
