5TH SUNDAY OF LENT. REFLECTION BY FR. NELSON OLAGUNJU ON Sunday, 3rd APRIL 2022
Posted on: April 10, 2022.
In this season of Lent, we have had different reflections. On the 1st Sunday of lent, we reflected on the Temptation of Jesus Christ in the Wilderness. On the 2nd Sunday of lent, we reflected on Transfiguration of Christ while that of the 3rd Sunday of Lent was Repentance. Moving to the 4th Sunday of lent, we reflected on the story of the prodigal son. While our reflection for the 5th Sunday, centred on the woman caught in the act of adultery. The 5th Sunday of lent is also called the 1st passion Sunday.
In the 1st Reading of today, God called a new Order to his people, Israel. Also in the 2nd Reading, Paul is encouraging us to put the past behind and move forward. Therefore, we are called to put behind the sinful chapters of our life and begin anew today.
In the Gospel, the Scribes and Pharisees brought a woman, a condemned sinner to Jesus expecting him to also condemn and judge her sinful act. Jesus however saw something new in her. He saw a redeemed daughter of Abraham. Let us be reminded that no matter how much we are condemned or judged by others, Jesus is available to redeem us, so put your trust in him.
Jesus showed mercy to the woman caught in adultery, we as Christians should emulate this act of mercy exemplified by Jesus, and show mercy to our brothers and sisters. Christ never condemns us; he hates sin but not the sinner. If the sinner repents, he is ready to embrace the sinner. Let us not just be remorseful of our sins, but also readily take the step of repentance, through conviction that Christ will not condemn us but openly embrace us irrespective of our sins.
As we continue our Lenten Observances, we should learn to forgive and not condemn others. We should learn to show love to our neighbours regardless of their sins.
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