Renewing experience with Christ: 5th Sunday of Lent

Jdid not deny the Scribes and Pharisees the right to carry out this prescription of the law, but He insisted on one condition, that they have no sin on their consciences. Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her. It was very emotional

when Jesus and the woman were left alone, he looked up and said, “Woman, where are they?” Ironically, the selfrighteous observers of the law, so eager to throw stones, could not measure up to the requirement that Jesus had laid down. The fifth Sunday of Lent is a deeper time of Lent. It scrutinizes for the preparation of the final Sunday of Lent before the beginning of Holy Week. The Liturgy of the Word of this day speaks of re-creation, resurrection, and new life.

The first reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah announces through the prophet Isaiah Jesus’ plan of saving them once more, causing a new exodus that is even more wonderful than the first one. The second reading taken from the letter of St. Paul to the Philippians, professes that we are continually moved to know the Lord more deeply and more intimately, and thus to share in His life, if He becomes the center of our lives.

Jesus, in today’s Gospel, invites us to look into our hearts. His answer to those who would condemn the woman caught in adultery applies to us all: He who has no sin be the first to cast a stone. We may be better not because we are less of a sinner than they. It is because we do not expose for who we really are. But God sees into our hearts, and tells us not to condemn easily because we, too, are in need of his forgiveness. Jesus opened up a path of love, through the condemning attitude of the crowd who had ganged up against this woman. He cleared a path through hatred, converting it instead into love for everyone involved.

Jesus continues to reconcile us with God and with one another through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. He waits for us there, to bring his healing love to everyone. Once restored to a state of grace, we can let go of the guilt and lift up our eyes to Jesus and see a better future, and a better life ahead of us.

May we continue to strive for holiness as we continue our journey in this Lenten pilgrimage.