It is 7th April 2019. We celebrate the fifth Sunday of the Lent. The readings are from Isaiah 43:16-21; the second reading is from Philippians 3:8-14; and the Gospel John 8:1-11. God tends to forget our sins because God writes them with the ink of mercy that disappears the moment we have repented. But God ever remembers and notices all our acts of charity records them to reward us. Newness comes by our cooperation with God through our change of heart. No matter who condemns us, exaggerates us and over-stretches our sins we have done in our human weakness yet God is ever ready to remove even the tint of it. No one can stop God doing new things in our life when we have truly repented. God revives and renews our souls when our sins have made them like desert. God creates the river of mercy with the flow of justice to cleanse the contaminated veins and vessels of our souls and minds. Charity is the much-awaited rain that brings new life for our souls that are deserted by sins. God loves our gratitude and praise in the genuineness of our hearts. In the first reading, the prophet Isaiah encourages us to accept the offer of redemption as God has decided to forget our past deeds. During the time of Lent, God wants to make us new persons washed away from all guilt, and shame of our sins and free from all fear of judgements. God never rushes for judgments rather God patiently waits for our return. “For I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself so that they might declare my praise.” (Is. 43:21). God has forgotten our past sins. We must let go of our past however painful and horrible it could be. By letting go of the past, we invite and embrace the newness of heart of life that is promised by God. The past need not be always about our fallenness it could be about our grandiosity that we need to move out and move forward with optimism and hope. The responsorial Psalm praises, “The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.” (Ps.126:3). In the second reading, St. Paul urges us to continue running for Christ and promoting the values of the Gospel without being tired and when we have not been recognised and rewarded yet. “Forgetting what lies behind but straining forward to what lies ahead, I continue my pursuit toward the goal, the prize of God’s upward calling in Christ Jesus.” (Phil.3:14). Let us transcend above the currents and swirls of sins and be energised by the stamina of holiness. Being faithful to Christ is the race we all need to run tirelessly that cannot be stopped until we reach God in Heaven. The Gospel reminds us our vulnerability of being caught and exposed of our sins by the very sinners and sinful situation. Yet, Jesus wants us to return to God by acknowledging our sinfulness to Him in the Sacrament of Penance and Confession where no sin goes without absolution. Lent is not the time to throw stones of sins and shame on others rather to surrender ourselves in the forgiving Heart of Jesus who protects us from all those who wish to expose us anyway. None of us have the power to judge the other when we are fallen in sins. Jesus gently reminds her not to sin anymore while chiding the ones to be reminded of their own sins before getting rid of the others. We are too quick to comment about the cleanliness of our neighbour’s yard while our backyards are having a rotting smell. Forgiveness, renewal, and mercy is offered by God through Jesus. Let us have the courage to confess our sins to the Lord in the confession. We do not need to fear for those who throw stone us. Jesus would deal with them when we are willing to deal with our sins. May we give God a chance in our life during this Lent by allowing God’s forgiveness and mercy to melt our stony souls, harmful hearts and merciless minds. May you have a good day. May God bless you.