New Creation

Fifth Sunday of Lent
21 March 2010


Come, today, and listen to his voice: do not harden your hearts.


First reading Isaiah 43:16-21
Thus says the Lord,
who made a way through the sea,
a path in the great waters;
who put chariots and horse in the field
and a powerful army
which lay there never to rise again,
snuffed out, put out like a wick:
No need to recall the past,
no need to think about what was done before.
See, I am doing a new deed,
even now it comes to light; can you not see it?
Yes, I am making a road in the wilderness,
paths in the wilds.
The wild beasts will honour me,
jackals and ostriches,
because I am putting water in the wilderness
(rivers in the wild)
to give my chosen people drink.
The people I have formed for myself
will sing my praises.

Psalm or canticle: Psalm 125:1-6

Second reading Philippians 3:8-14
I believe nothing can happen that will outweigh the supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For him I have accepted the loss of everything, and I look on everything as so much rubbish if only I can have Christ and be given a place in him. I am no longer trying for perfection by my own efforts, the perfection that comes from the Law, but I want only the perfection that comes through faith in Christ, and is from God and based on faith. All I want is to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and to share his sufferings by reproducing the pattern of his death. That is the way I can hope to take my place in the resurrection of the dead. Not that I have become perfect yet: I have not yet won, but I am still running, trying to capture the prize for which Christ Jesus captured me. I can assure you my brothers, I am far from thinking that I have already won. All I can say is that I forget the past and I strain ahead for what is still to come; I am racing for the finish, for the prize to which God calls us upwards to receive in Christ Jesus.

Gospel John 8:1-11
Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At daybreak he appeared in the Temple again; and as all the people came to him, he sat down and began to teach them.
The scribes and Pharisees brought a woman along who had been caught committing adultery; and making her stand there in full view of everybody, they said to Jesus, ‘Master, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery, and Moses has ordered us in the Law to condemn women like this to death by stoning. What have you to say?’ They asked him this as a test, looking for something to use against him. But Jesus bent down and started writing on the ground with his finger. As they persisted with their question, he looked up and said, ‘If there is one of you who has not sinned, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.’ Then be bent down and wrote on the ground again. When they heard this they went away one by one, beginning with the eldest, until Jesus was left alone with the woman, who remained standing there. He looked up and said, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ ‘No one, sir’ she replied. ‘Neither do I condemn you,’ said Jesus ‘go away, and do not sin any more.’

Reflection
By Fely Santiago

“Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider not; see, I am doing something new!

Now I understand why Lent is commemorated every year. It gives us opportunity to be “re-born” to have a new life, to sin no more. The key is repentance. We have to resolve to really live the gospel every day, the good news of love.

God loves us so much that He sent His Son our Lord Jesus Christ to save us. Today Jesus saved the woman from death as she was caught in adultery. There appears to be no hope for the woman – she violated the law, she was ready to be stoned to death by the crowd and even the religious leaders condemned her. Her only hope was Jesus.

The woman is a symbol of humanity caught in sin. We too have sinned and have been unfaithful to God. But Jesus saved us – “nor do I condemn you. You may go. But from now on, sin no more.” This is the experience when we receive the sacrament of reconciliation. Through the priest we hear the words, “Your sins are forgiven – go in peace.” What a wonderful feeling! We become new creation. Clean again.

So remember not the sins and guilt of the past but focus on the bright future with Christ on our side. Receive the sacrament of reconciliation often so we become new creation again and again...

Lord, form me in mercy that I might both accept Your mercy and extend that mercy towards others. Make me a new creation to live the good news of love everyday. Amen.


Next week on God-speak