may the Lord grant you grace and peace in the Holy Spirit.
It is 03rd April 2022.
We celebrate the fifth Sunday of Lent. We reflect on Isaiah 43:16-21; Philippians 3:8-14; John 8:1-11.
God creates a new way specially for us when all the possible ways are closed. God never runs short of creativity and newness. As we are fast approaching to celebrate the Easter, we are strengthened by the Lord.
Life seems hopeless when we are caught red-handed, lost direction and lost everything we had. The readings invite us to reflect that God never forget God’s people when everyone is up against us. No matter what it takes, God would be there for us. This is what we witness in the life of three people namely the people of Israel, St. Paul and the woman caught in adultery in three different readings of the day
However traumatic and hopeless situations we go through in our life, God turns them hopeful, blissful and blessed. The Exodus is not going to repeat in the life of the people of God and there is no need to think of the past and lost. This reinforces our unwavering hope in God who makes everything possible. God assures the people of God that God would create streams of living water in the desert. “I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”
And the Psalm reiterates the mood of the readings: “The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.”
St. Paul encourages us, “forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.” Life is all about that constantly moving forward no matter who has blocked you out, removed your name from their contact lists, or put in difficulties that pulls us down to the core, yet in all these God expects us to move on. There are occasions we are blamed and misunderstood by our well-wishers, friends, relatives and even family member but remember it is not worth mourning for all these trivial matters of life. What makes us ultimately God is the unchanging love of God. God wants us a new direction, new path, fresh start and new relationship. Insults, hurts and wilful neglect cannot reduce our quality of being human but in a way, it brings out the possibility of being renewed, positive, and allowing us to move on with new and genuine friendships without being aggressive. Our aggression needs to be in our moving forward without breaking down and loving genuinely.
“Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.” Anyone can be caught for things they have done or be accused falsely. Being caught and exposed by people whom we have placed our trust is now has become a fashion. We may not have proofs and reason to justify our act, yet God offers another chance for us to change. Returning to the rut and not ready to change is not expected us. Pride takes it all to away from God and move towards sins and sinful people. Things we need to ask today: are we exaggerating the faults, failures and mistakes of others in order to save someone else? Are we passing judgements on others without assessing our personal life? Jesus offers forgiveness for all of us. Are we ready to accept the new offer of God through Jesus? May God bless you.