Friends, today is the fifth Sunday of Lent in Year C, gradually, we are coming close to the end of Lent. On the other hand, we are getting close to, the paschal feast. In other words, we are gradually moving away from the zone of suffering to the zone of glory. All the readings of this Sunday give us hope and paint a picture of a very bright future for us. We are invited to reflect on God’s promises, our journey in faith, and the call to forgiveness and change. The readings from Isaiah, Philippians, and the Gospel of John guide us to new beginnings, perseverance, and mercy. Lord, help us embrace new beginnings, strive toward our goals in Christ, and show mercy to others. Guide us to trust in Your promises and grow in our faith.
Friends, in the first reading of today, God tells us of the new things he has started doing among us, and for us. He is restoring our hope, and giving us every reason to continue living. This means that despite the difficulties of this present moment and season, the Lord will put a smile on our faces soon. Surely, he will do this because: “Weeping may endure at night but joy comes in the morning” (Ps 30, 5). There is hope because we are approaching our morning. We must be positive about the future as we approach the Paschal celebration. This is because God is ready to fulfill his promises to us. God speaks through Isaiah, telling His people that He will do something new. He asks them to forget the past and look forward to what He is going to do. Brothers and sisters, God’s message is clear; He is making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. This means that even in our hardest times, God is working to bring us hope and renewal. He wants us to trust that He can create new paths and provide for us in unexpected ways. Today, we are reminded to let go of our past mistakes and failures. We should not dwell on what we cannot change. Instead, we should focus on the new opportunities God is giving us. By trusting in His promise, we can move forward with hope and confidence in His plans for us.
Friends, in our second reading, Paul tells us that he decided to count everything as a loss for the sake of Christ. This was to gain the future glory to be revealed in Christ. He understood the worth of the new life offered by God in Christ. Paul reminds us to press on toward our goal in Christ. In today’s reading, he speaks about counting everything as loss compared to the greatness of knowing Jesus. Brothers and sisters, Paul shows us that nothing else matters as much as our relationship with Christ. Paul also tells us that he has not yet reached his goal but keeps striving. This teaches us that our faith journey is ongoing. We must always work to grow closer to Jesus, never feeling we have arrived. The second reading of today encourages us to forget what is behind and strain toward what is ahead. By focusing on our goal in Christ, we can overcome obstacles and continue to grow in our faith. This reading challenges us to keep moving forward, always seeking a deeper relationship with Jesus.
Friends, in today’s Gospel, the Pharisees brought an adulterous woman to Christ. They thought that Christ would condemn her immediately. They thought he would give them permission to go ahead and stone the woman to death. However, they were wrong, because Christ came to save and not to condemn. They were wrong because the ways and thoughts of Christ are different from theirs. So, instead of condemning her, Jesus restored her life and offered her a new chance to live. He simply told her; “Go and sin no more.” The gospel of today calls us to change our hearts. Sometimes, we think our righteousness and the law of God give us the right to judge others. But in the gospel, Jesus shows us another way. Jesus teaches that the life of a sinner is more important than the law. The woman caught in adultery broke the rules, and there’s no denial of that. But Jesus believes in giving second chances, even when the law does not.
Friends, the woman in the story remains silent. She does not admit her mistake or apologize. Her silence can be seen in many ways, but it shows she does not make excuses either. Both the crowd and the woman have strayed from God’s heart and law. We do the same. Like the woman, we might ignore God’s commands and do as we please. Or like the crowd, we might use the law to separate “us” from “them,” wanting punishment for those who fail. Jesus also shows trust in the crowd. He seems to know that no one will throw a stone. He believes that their goodness will shine through when challenged. We can learn from this in our society. A good mantra for this gospel is “Forgive her. Change me.” It reminds us to show mercy and seek personal change. Brothers and sisters, let’s ask God to help us forgive others. Let us also seek change in our hearts. The Lord be with you …. May the Almighty God bless you, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Have a Blessed Sunday and a Prayerful Lenten Season
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Repent and believe in the Gospel!
By: Fr. Ben Chola mccj
